James P. McEntee Sr. died Sept. 13, 2004, in Santa Barbara. He
was 73.
James P. McEntee Sr. died Sept. 13, 2004, in Santa Barbara. He was 73.
McEntee served as parish priest at St. Catherine’s Church in the late 60s.
Friends and co-workers described him as a spirited advocate for social justice. He was a human being who modeled compassion and human kindness and left a world that was better than the one he found, because throughout his life, he worked to make it so.
People from all walks of life respected him. He had a talent for bringing people together. McEntee had a long history of building bridges between communities, bringing programs and services to the people in Santa Clara County. He is a founding member of the Confederation de la Raza Unida, founding chairman of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara County, a founding member of the Emergency Housing Consortium and the Help House the Homeless Coalition. McEntee urged the county to open up its armories in the late 1980s to temporarily house the homeless during winter, a program that continues to this day.
McEntee, fluent in Spanish, also worked very closely with the United Farm Workers of America beginning 1965. From 1962-65, McEntee served as executive director of the Latin American Mission Program in San Francisco. He also served as executive director of Voluntary Action Center of Santa Clara County from 1973-76.
McEntee was hired by Santa Clara County in 1976 as the director of the Human Relations Commission, and later served as manager of the Office of Human Relations until his retirement in 2003. He retired in July 2003 after 27 years of service. Consistent with his approach to life, to celebrate his retirement, he hosted a picnic for colleagues and friends to enjoy.
Prior to entering the world of secular public service, McEntee served as a Roman Catholic priest including service as associate pastor at St. Catherine’s Church and at Saint Louis Bertrand Church in Oakland.
McEntee was born in Oakland. He was a lifelong resident of the Bay Area and a resident of Santa Clara County for 38 years. He was involved in church, civil and community activities.
He was married to Ann McEntee, a true partner for social justice and a teacher, and reared with her a large multi-cultural family. Aside from his wife, he is survived by his two birth children Amy and Peter, six adopted children, and served as foster parent to a ninth child. He also is survived by 14 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, two sisters and three brothers.
A multicultural and multi-faith prayer and visitation service took place Thursday at St. John Vianney Church, 4601 Hyland Ave., San Jose.
Funeral Mass was Friday, Sept. 17, at the church. Internment was at Calvary Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Friends of Human Relations, 14850 E. Hills Dr., San Jose, CA 95127 or Abrazos & Books scholarship program at 255 W. Julian St., Suite 503A, San Jose, CA 95110.
Arrangements were by the Darling-Fischer Garden Chapel, Santa Clara.
