Hollister native and lifelong San Benito County resident Fulton J. “Bumpy” Picetti Jr. passed away suddenly at St. Louise Hospital at the age of 96 years.
Fulton was a graduate of Southside Grammar School, 1930; Hollister High School, 1934; San Benito County Junior College, 1936; and received his Bachelor’s in Economics, 1939 from Stanford University. October 1941, he enlisted in the U.S. Army, graduating from Officer Candidate School in 1942 as a Second Lieutenant. Upon his discharge in 1946 with his rank of Captain, he entered the Army Active Reserve as an officer with duty, and seventeen years late was discharged with the rank of Lt. Colonel.
Coinciding with his military discharge in 1946, Fulton entered the insurance business in Hollister. His business career began with an old insurance firm that had been formed by local business men many years before.
In 1964, Fulton associated with Robert Anders on to form Picetti & Anderson an independent insurance company which was located in the center of the Hollister business district. When the partners retired the firm was sold to Sandy Rose Insurance Services.
Fulton is a member of the San Benito County Saddle Horse Association and had been a Director and it’s Secretary Treasurer. Also, as a member of many local community organizations, he participated in City of Hollister and San Benito County business and political activities.
He was affiliated with the Hollister Elks Lodge 1436; SIRS 131; Prunedale Grange, San Benito County Farm Bureau; Italian Catholic Federation, IDES Portuguese Lodge; Army Reserve Officers Association; Past President of San Benito County Chamber of Commerce; and Past Director of the 33rd Agricultural District, the Hazel Hawkins Hospital District and Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation. He was co-founder of the Louis, Eunice & Fulton Picetti Family Scholarship Fund which awards scholarships to students attending Notre Dame and Palma High Schools in Salinas and scholarships to students at Sacred Heart School and Southside School.
Fulton’s talents were not all devoted to business or the military. He possessed some musical skills, too. During the early 1930’s, beginning about 1932, Fulton played for a couple of years in his uncle’s group, “The Charles Corotto Band”. Fulton played the accordion and would alternate with Charles. He then joined the Lester Bisho Orchestra, a leading local musical group, playing with Bisho from 1935/1936 until he entered the military in 1941. The Orchestra played the San Juan Community Hall most Saturday nights 9:00 P.M. to 2:00 A.M. and Friday nights for High School or Junior College dances, as well as weddings on Sunday.
Fulton was predeceased by his parents Fulton Sr. and Mary Corotto Picetti; his sister Eunice Picetti, his brother Louis Picetti, and sister- in-law Regina Picetti. Surviving are many cousins.
Visitation will be Wednesday, September 19th, 2012, from 2:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M. at the Grunnagle Funeral Home Chapel. (No rosary is scheduled) . Friends are invited to join the family Thursday morning at 9:30 A.M. at Sacred Heart Church 5th & College Streets , Hollister for a Mass of The Resurrection beginning at 10:00 A.M. Entombment will follow at Calvary Cemetery Mausoleum.
Memorials are preferred to the Hazel Hawkins Hospital Foundation; the Picetti Family Scholarship Fund; or to Sacred Heart School, Southside School, Notre Dame, or Palma High School c/o the mortuary chapel.
Visit: www.grunnagle.com for condolences.
