Bernard Kenneth Genetti

1926 - 2021

Bernard Kenneth Genetti
September 5, 1926 - September 16, 2021
Resident of San Jose
Bernard Kenneth Genetti of San Jose, California, passed away on Thursday, September 16th, just days after his 95th birthday. A lover of aviation, from planes to spacecraft, Mr. Genetti spent his life in search of the sky—and beyond. He flew planes for the U.S. Navy with patrol squadron 28 just after World War II before completing two degrees in aerospace engineering at the University of Illinois. In his engineering career, he led design for General Electric's transonic cascade tunnel, the most sophisticated of its time, and headed product reliability and safety with NASA during the Apollo Program, including the Apollo 11 moon landing mission. His 42 year career with GE also involved development in transportation systems and nuclear power generation.
Additionally, Mr. Genetti was a beloved family man, who was married to Marilyn Genetti for 59 years before her passing in 2009. Together, they raised eight children. Mr. Genetti is survived by his second wife of six years, Clara Jablonski Genetti, seven of his children, 14 grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren.
Family and friends are invited to attend a Vigil Service Thursday, September 30, 2021 at 7:00 P.M. at LIMA-CAMPAGNA-ALAMEDA MISSION CHAPEL, 600 S. Second Street, San Jose, with a Visitation beginning at 1:00 P.M. Funeral Mass Friday, October 1, 2021 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Christopher's Church, 2278 Booksin Avenue (At Curtner Avenue), San Jose. Interment to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, where he will be laid to rest in a family plot alongside Marilyn Genetti. Gifts in his honor can be made as charitable donations to Habitat for Humanity or Catholic Charities USA.


View the online memorial for Bernard Kenneth Genetti