Bernard J. “Jim” Poletti was called to his heavenly home peacefully on March 7. Born Jan. 27, 1934, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, to Barbara and Bernard Poletti, he was their only child. In 1939, the family moved to San Jose where Jim lived most of his adolescent life attending Bellarmine High School where he excelled at track.
Jim attended Santa Clara University and was a member of the cheer squad and he received his bachelor’s in biology in 1955. There he met the love of his life, Charlene, whom he married in 1956. In 1955 he entered Creighton Medical School where he received his doctorate in medicine in 1959. At Creighton, he was made a member of the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Society.
Thereafter, Jim and Charlene moved to Los Angeles where he completed a year of his residency at Queen of Angels Hospital. In 1960, he was called into active duty in the Army and served as a captain in the Medical Corps until 1962. From 1962 to 1966 he completed his residency in pathology.
In 1966, the family, then seven strong, moved to La Cañada Flintridge where they lived for more than 45 years.
Jim was a founding partner at Clinical Laboratory Medical Group in Los Angeles where he served as medical director until his retirement in 2000. He was very involved in a number of civic and community affairs throughout his life. He served as medical director and a member of the board of directors of St. Anne’s Maternity Home in Los Angeles, a member of the board of directors of the Queen of Angels Foundation for the Poor and president of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Catholic Big Brothers.
Jim cherished the many friends he developed through his involvement in the community. He was known for his kindness, generosity, wit and great love for his family and friends. He was a Eucharistic minister at St. Bede’s parish in La Cañada Flintridge, a Little League coach for more than 10 years, a Cub Scout leader and a Knight in the Order of Malta. His love for life was reflected in his passion for the California Angels baseball club and his love of golf and tennis. He was quite the artist and craftsman, an avid gardener and fancied himself the premier family “Jeopardy” player. Jim could also play a mean banjo and make a top-notch Manhattan.
He will be greatly missed by his family. Jim and Charlene had been married for 60 years. They are proud parents of five children, Thomas, Steven, Robert, Joseph and David. There are four daughters-in-law, Janine, Manda, Michele and Julie. Jim is also survived by 18 grandchildren: Elizabeth and her husband (Scott Fellmeth), Samantha, Tommy, Garryn, Matthew, Katie, Logan, Delacy, Steven, Anthony, Christina, Abagail, Jenifer, Zachary, Matthew, Andrew and Nichole.
His memorial service is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15, at 10 a.m. at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, 215 Foothill Blvd., La Cañada Flintridge. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Mortuary, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in Los Angeles. Cabot & Sons, Pasadena.
His Memorial Service is scheduled for Wednesday, March 15th at 10:00 at St. Bede the Venerable Catholic Church, 215 Foothill Blvd., La Canada Flintridge, CA. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Mortuary, 6300 Forest Lawn Dr., Los Angeles, CA.
Cabot & Sons, Pasadena
