Joseph C. Santana passed away on March 10, 2017, quietly and peacefully after an unexpected decline in his health. He was 93. Joe was raised in Santa Clara County. Proud of his Portuguese roots, he was part of the extended clan that settled the area.

As a teen, he was both an athlete and a scholar, playing football for Bellarmine before graduating in 1941. He then attended Santa Clara University, where he re-fashioned himself a stellar golfer, captaining the team. He took a hiatus to fulfill his military service in WWII, and professes to have been surprised to find himself in weather school in Illinois!

After the war, he returned to Santa Clara to finish college and Santa Clara Law School in an accelerated program. Joe spent his long legal career working for the California State Automobile Association, including stints as Assistant General Counsel and Manager of Claims Litigation, trying cases for the defense and managing the legal departments in San Jose and San Francisco. He was always happy to tell stories about runaway verdicts and surprise witnesses. As a well-spoken and always elegantly dressed lawyer, he had a fulfilling career. He retired at age 71.

Joe was a staunch supporter of his community: proud to have been past president of the Kiwanis, past Grand Knight in the Knights of Columbus, and an active member of his parish, Sacred Heart in Saratoga.

Joe had a quick and wonderful sense of humor, keeping his colleagues and friends amused with his wry observations and occasionally poking fun at their foibles. He was equally generous with praise, and could be counted on as a great dining companion.

Joe and Terry loved to travel widely and enjoyed their adventures. He also loved to fish and went on regular trips to throughout California, Oregon and Wyoming. His skill and love of golf kept him a regular at Saratoga Country Club where he often met regularly with friends he had known for more than 50 years. He had a passion for baseball, and followed the Giants during spring training and as a loyal season ticket holder.

Joe's first wife Isabel died young and he was lucky to meet and marry Terry who sadly passed away in 2012. Joe was also predeceased by his beloved son Mark and equally beloved stepson Randy (Sheleman), and sister Mary. He is survived by his daughter Julie, brother Tony, and grandchildren Katie, Michael, JR, and Steve. He will be sorely missed by his family, good friends, neighbors and past colleagues in the legal community.

A memorial mass will be held at Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga on April 5 @ 11:00. A reception to immediately follow at La Mere Michelle in Saratoga.

In lieu of flowers, and in honor of Joe's life, donations to Hospice of the Valley or Sacred Heart Church are suggested.