Former Hollister Mayor and Councilman Leonard Poletti, who ran a local ambulance company for many years and was active in local organizations, died Saturday at age 87.
“This past week, we lost a real important Hollister citizen, Leonard Polletti,” Supervisor Anthony Botelho said at today’s county board meeting, noting how Poletti was a former Hollister mayor and council member who was very active in nonprofit organizations. “He passed away this past week. He meant a lot to a lot of us that have been here a long time. He operated the ambulance company for years and years. He was a real good man.”
Botelho noted how there is visitation at Black-Cooper-Sander Funeral Home from 1-8 p.m. Wednesday with a Mass at Sacred Heart at 1 p.m. Thursday.
“I hope everybody kind of keeps him in their thoughts and prayers tomorrow and remember his good contributions to our city,” Botelho said.
The following is information from the obituary published on the Black-Cooper-Sander Funeral Home website:
Leonard J. Poletti passed away at his Hollister home at the age of 87. He was born in Hollister and lived here all of his life.
He married the love of his life, his wife Beverly, in 1950 at Sacred Heart Church.
He served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War.
Poletti was on the Hollister City Council and was mayor for nine years.
As for nonprofits, he was active with the Hollister Exchange Club (Past President), Knights of Columbus, Sacred Heart Church, American Legion, Swiss American Club, CA and American Ambulance Association, San Benito County Emergency Medical Committee and Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation.
He worked for PG&E, as a deputy sheriff for the coroner of San Benito County, and as co-owner of Northside Nursery with Manuel Yuste and Leonard Gomes.
He owned and operated Stephens and Poletti Ambulance and Durable Medical Supplies with Jim Stephens.
He is survived by his wife, Beverly of Hollister, his children and their spouses, Dennis Poletti and Nada Sparling Poletti of Hollister and Linda and Keith Keller of Hollister, his sister, Helen Casillas of Hollister and his grandchildren and their spouses, Ryan and Cari Keller, Aaron and Alexandra Keller, Jace and Brooke Poletti, Tamara and Steven Malekos and Tyler and Katie Poletti and 11 great grandchildren.
He is preceded in death by his brother, Burt Brughelli, and his grandson Zane Poletti who died in 2015, and his parents, Albert and Mary Poletti. He is also survived by his two very special companions, Chico and Latte and numerous nieces and nephews and his sisters in law, Bonnie Moore of Patterson and Shirley Ruiz of Hollister.
Friends can pay their respects on Wednesday, March 20, 2019 from 1:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home.
The Mass will be on Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 1:00 PM at Sacred Heart Church. Friends can meet at the church for the Mass. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery.
Donations are preferred to Pet Friends or Fishes and Loaves c/o Black Cooper Sander Funeral Home, 363 7th St. Hollister, CA 95023.
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