Obituary of Ralph J. Brigantino

Ralph J. Brigantino passed away at his Hollister residence, surrounded by his loving family, on Friday, May 10th, 2019 at the age of 94 years.

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                                          My Obituary By Ralph Joseph Brigantino

I was raised by my beautiful mother and father, Katie and Joe Brigantino in Los Angeles, California.

As a young boy, I worked on a horse ranch in Newhall, CA. I also fed dairy calves, developing my love for animals.

I attended Fremont High School but left six months before graduation to serve my country during World War II. I initially served 8 months with the US Navy and then transferred to the 1st Marine Division in the South Pacific until the war ended in 1945. I remained active until 1946 repatriating Japanese troops out of China. Upon returning home I married Gloria Giordano in Los Angeles.

I graduated from Pierce Agricultural College, receiving a degree in Animal Husbandry. I moved to Paicines in 1949 to become a cattle rancher. In 1955, I moved to Hollister. I continued to raise beef and sheep in Solano County while farming an apricot orchard in Hollister. It was here I raised my family of eight children. I was active in the Cottonwood 4H club, the Farm Bureau, and the Elks Lodge for 60 plus years.

I started San Benito Realty in 1959 and my sons and grandchildren continue to run the business today.

I was on the Sacred Heart, Palma and Notre Dame School Boards, I enjoyed serving as an usher at St. Benedicts Church.  

My first wife Gloria passed away in 1984 after 37 years of marriage. My son Joseph Frank passed away in 1993.   In 1986 I married my second wife Mary Ellen Larson.

I leave behind my loving wife Mary Ellen and my children:

Katherine (Karl) Winkelman, Anna(Robin), Danita (wife of Joseph), David (Dixie), Christopher (Julie), Anthony (Christina), John (Vicki), and Vincent (Denise) as well as my step sons Jim (Joann) and Paul (Schrene) and my 33 grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren.

I thank God for my whole life, my beautiful family, my two beautiful wives, my beautiful friends, and beautiful San Benito County. I couldn’t ask for more.

Ralph Joseph Brigantino

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Visitation will be Thursday, May 16th from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with the recitation of the Rosary at 7:00 p.m.

On Friday, May 17th,  family and friends will meet at St. Benedict Church at 11:00 a.m. for a Mass of the Resurrection. Interment, with full military honors, will follow at Calvary Cemetery. A reception will then be held at the Hollister Elks Lodge.

Donations are preferred to: Community Foundation for San Benito County - Brigantino Family Fund, 829 San Benito Street #200, Hollister, CA 95023 (Benefits Sacred Heart School)