James Michael Perotte
May 13, 1929 – December 19, 2010
James Michael Perotte passed away peacefully in his Goleta home surrounded by family on December 19, 2010 after a long heroic 25 year battle with cancer.
James was born in Hollywood, CA on May 13, 1929. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps at the age of 17 and was assigned to the 2nd Communications Command in Kempo, Korea and later Nagoya, Japan. After serving in many duty stations throughout the Pacific, he was discharged with the rank of sergeant in Yokohama, Japan, and headed home. As the Korean War began, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was assigned to Alameda Air Station. He later transferred to the USS Hancock, working on a then state-of-the-art jet fighter program. His final duty station was Moffett Field at Mountain View where he was discharged after completing his tour.
While on leave in 1952 visiting Calgary, Alberta, Canada, James met his soulmate and the love of his life, Jean. They were married in 1954 and settled down in San Francisco. James went to Alaska in 1957 to work on the NORAD project for a year then returned home and relocated to the San Gabriel Valley to work for Ampex Corporation. 1964 found James and his family moving to Santa Barbara to work for Applied Magnetics Corporation. Potter Instruments hired James in 1969 and sent him and the family off to Puerto Rico where James was responsible for setting up manufacturing facilities in many of the area islands. In 1973, James and family went to Potter’s New York home office . After a year in the snow and ice, the California native decided it was time to return home.
James returned to Santa Barbara in 1974, working briefly at Kilovac Corporation in Carpinteria and Information Magnetics in Goleta. In 1976, James founded his own successful technology business, Magretech, Incorporated, where he remained until retiring in 1995. James remained active in the community as a volunteer assisting with elections. He also contributed to many local community based organizations including Goleta Valley Girls Softball Association, local Brandon and El Rancho school PTA organizations and a proud sponsor of the American Cancer Society and participated in numerous Relay For Life fundraisers.
He is preceded in death by parents Peter and Blanche Perotte and sisters Marion and Blanche. James is survived by his loving wife Jean, his three children and their spouses, sons Peter (Paula) and Robert (Kristi) and daughter Cathy (Jeff), and grandchildren, Josh, Kirsten, Tyler, Kaycie, Baylee, Matthew and Stephanie and numerous nephews and nieces.
A graveside service will be held on December 29, 2010 at the Goleta Cemetery at 11:00 AM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, Santa Barbara Cancer Center, Santa Barbara Hospice or the USS Hancock CVA 19 Association.