James F. Bretz

James (Jim) F. Bretz, 82, of Manchester, passed away on Wednesday, November 24, 2021 in his home. Born in Homewood, IL, he was the son of the late Charles and Alice (Puzell) Bretz. He was a United States Coast Guard veteran, General Manager of several minor league teams in Major League Baseball, and retired as a Regional Director for the American Cancer Society. He was also a softball coach at Manchester High School. He is survived by his children James A. Bretz and his girlfriend Kari Gracie of Granby, CT, Theodore Bretz of Ellington, CT, and Ashley McCall and her husband Mitchell of Bloomington, IN; his grandchildren Gina Bretz, Ryan, Katelyn and Dean McCall, and Matthew Pepe; his siblings and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim spent his life serving others and will forever be remembered for his selflessness in volunteering, coaching, his steadfast Catholic faith, and his devotion to family. Jim carried a signature smile and a hearty laugh with him all his days. He never met a stranger; every person in the world, to him, was just a friend he hadn't met yet. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday December 2nd at 10 a.m. at St. Margaret-Mary Church - 80 Hayes Road South Windsor, CT. Family and friends may call at the John F. Tierney Funeral Home - 219 West Center St. Manchester on Wednesday Dec 1st from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Camp Quality Kentuckiana (www.campqualityusa.org), a summer camp for children with cancer, where Jim served as a counselor for several years. For online condolences please visit www.tierneyfuneralhome.com.