In Remembrance

Below are brief summaries of retirees who passed away this year. The information is provided by family and friends of those who passed. If you know of a retired San Jose police officer or firefighter who passed this year, but you do not see them listed below, please click here to send us an email and let us know.

Retired Sgt. James Overstreet #2202 passed away on February 12, 2024.

Retired Fire Captain Ralph Padilla passed peacefully in his sleep on February 8, 2024.

Affectionally known as the Mayor of Station #14, retired SJFD Firefighter Mike Moffett served on the Association Board and the Board of the Widows & Orphans Fund for at least 15 years. Mike is survived by his wife Pat, his son Christopher, daughters Tina and Linda, as well as seven grandchildren. He passed away on October 13, 2022. He was 84.

Retired Assistant Police Chief Fred Abram #1033  passed away on September 19, 2022.

Retired SJPD Officer Ron Mozley #1522 passed away on Tuesday, August 9, 2022.

Retried Fire Captain Walter M. Capp passed on July 30, 2022.  Walter retired on March 5, 1986.

Retired SJPD Officer Joseph D. Cressa #1266 passed away on July 27, 2022.

Retired SJPD Lieutenant Norvel Pulliam passed away on July 23, 2022. Norv was hired on February 4, 1958, and retired on February 7, 1984.

Retired firefighter paramedic Scott Fey passed away on July 21, 2022.

Retired SJPD Officer Douglas Wright #3017 passed away on July 14, 2022. He retired on November 1, 2001.

Retired SJFD Fire Engineer Robert (Bobby)Vermillion passed away on 6-22-2022. He joined the Department on September 15, 1960, and retired on October 5, 1992. He was 86.

Retired Fire Captain Rudolph (Rudy) Cabigas passed away on June 5, 2022. Rudy retired from SJFD on January 5, 2016. Rudy is survived by his wife, Belinda and Daughter, Katelyn.

Retired SJPD Officer Ken Siegel #3158 passed away May 12, 2022.

Retired SJFD Fire Engineer Ed Medina passed away on May 7, 2022. Ed started his career at SJFD in 1970. He is survived by his wife Connie.

Sgt. Richard A. Confer #1417. Richard passed away on 4-18-2022. Richard was a Bomb Squad supervisor and went on to work for the TSA and as a US Marshall following his retirement from SJPD.

Retired SJPD Officer James Leroy #1267 passed away on Friday, April 15, 2022.

Retired SJPD Lieutenant Brian Johst #3237, retired on November 14, 2020, and passed away on April 5, 2022. Brian is survived by his wife, Summer, four children, and several grandchildren.

Retired SJPD Officer Richard “Dick” Yuhas #1365 passed away on April 2, 2022, at the age of 86.

Retired SJFD Inspector Ed Schneickert Jr. passed away on April 2, 2022.

Retired SJPD Officer Kenneth J. Garino #1220 passed away on March 28, 2022.

Retired Fire Captain Dave Moseley passed away on March 25, 2022, at the age of 84. Dave served the SJFD for 29 years. His son, Mitch is a retired SJFD Fire Engineer.

Retired Firefighter Virgil Hernandez passed away on March 17, 2022.  Virgil served 25 years with SJFD, most of that time at Station One.

Retired SJPD Sgt. Dwight Messimer #1165 passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022.

Retired Sgt. Gilbert S. Gonzales #1527 passed away on February 12, 2022, at age 81 in Reno, Nevada. Gil lateraled from the LA Sheriffs Department in 1971 and worked for SJPD until 2000. Assignments included patrol, MERGE, Burglary Prevention Unit (BPU), auto theft, and background investigations.

Former SJPD Police Officer Donna Tonry #2188 passed away in February 2022. Donna worked as an SJPD Officer and later left the SJPD to pursue a career in education.

Retired SJPD Officer William C. “Bill” McLean, III #1814., died January 22, 2022, at his home in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Retired SJPD Lieutenant Patrick McGuire passed away on the morning of October 18, 2021. Pat retired on April 6, 2000. Pat leaves behind his wife, Cindy, son Ryan, who is a sergeant with the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Department, two grandchildren, and brothers, Robert and Tim, both of whom were also in law enforcement.  We will keep you informed if we receive any additional information.

Retired San Jose fire engineer Wayne Chapp passed away on August 3, 2021. Wayne retired in March 2000. He was 78 when he passed.
Posted: 8/3/21

Retired San Jose police officer Juan Reyes #2649 passed away on July 28, 2021
Posted: 7/29/21

Retired San Jose Firefighter Randy Knapp passed away on January 29, 2021.
Posted: 7/20/21

retired SJPD Lt. Jack Woodall passed away on July 14, 2021.
Posted: 7/15/21

Retired SJPD Sergeant John Trussler passed away on July 1st, 2021.
Posted: 7/9/21

Retired SJFD Fire Engineer Danny R. Holmes passed away July 5, 2021. Danny retired from the SJFD on May 14, 1978

Retired SJFD Division Chief Steve Alvarado passed away on July 2, 2021. Steve retired from SJFD in 2014.
Posted: 7/2/21

Retired San Jose Police Officer James Hart passed away on June 22, 2021. James retired from SJPD on December 3, 1969.
Posted: 9/3/21

Retired SJPD Sgt. Robert M. Browning #1205 passed away on June 19, 2021. At the time of his passing, he was living in Alpine, Utah.
Posted: 6/22/21

Retried SJFD Bill Hackett passed away on May 34, 2021.
Posted: 6/18/21

Retired SJFD Chief Bruce Staples passed away on May 18, 2021, after a long battle with cancer. Bruce was hired as a firefighter in 1970 and rose to the rank of Acting Fire Chief in 1999, serving in that position until April of 2000.  He retired from SJFD in August 2000.
Posted: 5/18/21

Retired SJFD Fire Engineer Jerry Mathis passed away on  May 8, 2021. He retired from SJFD on April 6, 1988.  He was 72 years old at his passing.
Posted: 5/12/21

Retired Firefighter William “Bill” P. Hacket passed away on May 2, 2021. He retired from SJFD on November 6, 1991. He is survived by his son Kirk and daughter Kelly.
Posted: 5/5/21

Retired SJPD Lieutenant Tom Perez passed away on April 22, 2021.  Tom worked multiple assignments during his career with the Department, including Patrol, Field Training, Narcotics, and Crime Prevention.  After leaving the Department, Tom got his law degree and practiced law up until January 2021.  Tom is survived by his wife, Estella, who also worked for the Department.
Posted: 4/26/21

Retired Sgt. Jason Woodall #2890 wass born on September 18, 1969, and passed away on April 26, 2021.
Posted: 5/6/21

SJPD Sgt. Fred Kingsley #1625 passed on April 12, 2021. Fred is survived by his wife, Shirley.
Posted: 4/12/21

We were recently informed of the passing of retired SJPD Officer Truman “Bud” Boman.  Bud retired on June 26, 2010, and passed on December 20, 2020.  He is survived by his wife, Barbara Boman.  Prior to his SJPD service, Bud served approximately 20 years in the U.S. military.
Posted: 4/12/21

Retired San Jose Firefighter Gerald Van Horn passed away in April 2021. Gerald retired in November 2000. He is survived by his wife Joanna Van Horn.
Posted: 4/06/21

Retired San Jose Police Sergeant Phillip J. Hada passed on January 24, 2021.  Phillip retired from SJPD on September 6, 1989.
Posted: 3/26/21

It is with deep sadness to inform you of the passing of retired Fire Engineer Gary Zobrosky.  Gary is survived by his wife Judy who told the Association that Gary truly loved the Fire Department and those that he served with.
Posted 3/8/21

Retired SJFD Deputy Chief Richard “Dick” Wattenbarger passed on February 15, 2021. Dick is survived by his wife Sue. Chief Wattenbarger retired from SJFD in 1991. In lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to make donations in the name of Dick Wattenbarger can make them to the following organizations: San Jose Fire Museum, Cal Farley’s Boys Ranch or St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
Posted 2/15/21

SJFD Engineer Greg Toscano passed away on February 9, 2021, following a long bout with Parkinson’s. Greg was hired on September 15, 1980, and retired on November 15, 2008. Greg is survived by his son David Toscano, Grandchild Zelda, and his seven siblings.
Posted 2/9/21

Retired SJPOD Officer, Badge #1422; passed 1/23/2021.

Retired SJPD Officer, Badge #2052. Passed 1/22/2021.

Retired SJPD Sergeant, Badge #2235; passed 1/22/2021.

Former Association President and Vice President, Raymond “Jay” Wendling passed away on January 8, 2021.   A retired police officer, Jay served as Association President and Vice President during some of this organization’s difficult political battles. Click here to read more.

Fredrick “Fred” Esparza was born on 8/29/1937 and passed on January 7, 2021. Fred joined the SJPD in 1962, where he served in the Metro and Street Crimes Units among others. Fred retired from JSPD in 1994 after 33 years of service.

Retired SJPD Sgt. Bill Sims #1407 passed on January 4, 2021.