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John died January 21, 2013, at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, from complications after lung cancer surgery. His extended family was grateful to be with him when he died.

John was born in Lucca, Italy to Pietro and Attilia Bernardi. His family immigrated to the United States in 1950, under the sponsorship of his uncle, Dino Bernardi, who had migrated to the US in the 1930’s. John’s family arrived by ship at Ellis Island, New York, and then traveled by train to California. None of his family spoke a word of English when they arrived. John’s great uncle, Angelo Del Chiaro, was one of the first to farm artichokes in Castroville. John worked very hard in the family business and even harder in school so that he would not have to be a farmer. However, his love of growing things and gardening won out over time. He shared his garden’s bounty with friends and neighbors.

He attended Castroville Elementary, El Sausal Junior High, Salinas High and was part of the first graduating class of North Salinas High, where he was senior class president in 1960. He attended Hartnell College where he was also elected class president. He graduated from San Francisco State University in 1964 with a degree in Social Studies and a Teaching Credential in 1965. He continued taking classes throughout his educational career and earned an Administrative degree through San Jose State University. John LOVED teaching.

He taught at North Salinas High for 23 years, where he ultimately became the Vice Principal. In 1994, he moved on to become the Director of Alternative Education for the Salinas Union High School District and was the Principal of Mount Toro until 1999. After “retirement”, John worked as a mentor teacher for CSUMB, an Educational Consultant for MCOE, a Consultant for several other districts, and was also the Vice Principal for Cypress Grove Charter School. He also managed to find time to write a book on classroom management as well as give guest lectures at Chapman University. He retired “for real” in 2008.

He married the” jewel of his heart”, Patricia Vaught, in 1965. They lived in Castroville for the first year of their marriage. In 1966, they bought a house in Monterey and lived there for 8 years. They moved to Carmel Valley in 1974, where John was known as “the Mayor of Meadows Road.” They celebrated their 47th anniversary last July.

John and Patricia were the youngest foster parents in Monterey County and fostered five teenage daughters as well as raising two daughters of their own, Lisa and Kari. In 2002, his only granddaughter was born. John and Sophie fell in love immediately and had a special relationship, as well as ran their own business together. He was an amazing husband, father, grandpa, teacher and human being. We will miss him every day.

He is survived by his wife, Patricia, his daughters Lisa and Kari, his granddaughter Sophie, his brother Franco Bernardi (Kathy), sister Franca Costanza (Sal), his cousins Silvio (Julie) and David Bernardi, (Toni), brothers-in-law, Richard (Brenda), Robert and Phillip Vaught, as well as extended family on both sides, here and in Italy.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Dr. David Jablons, his surgeon at UCSF, his local doctors, Dr. Jerome Rubin, Dr. Walter Holz, Dr. Hans Poggemeyer, Dr. Karim Tadlaoui and his amazing nurses at CHOMP, Antonio Prado and Ernierose Moreno, for all their kindness.

Donations in John’s honor can be made to the Comprehensive Cancer Center at CHOMP, 40 Ryan Ct., Suite 200, Monterey, CA, or the UCSF Medical Center, Box 0248, San Francisco, CA 94143-0248, your local Food Bank or Salvation Army.

John was cremated and his ashes will be scattered by his family at a later date.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, February 23rd, from 1-4 pm, at the Community Church of the Monterey Peninsula, 4590 Carmel Valley Road, Carmel. (Located between Rancho Canada Golf Course and Carmel Middle School)

When words can't fully express what we want to say, sometimes a small gift can. Visit our Memorial Store for personalized gifts, keepsake jewelry and to plant a memorial tree.

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John Bernardi Obituary | Altogether