Charles W. Dullea

1947 - 2025

After a valiant struggle against a short illness, Charlie left this world on November 7th at 2:15 p.m. Later that evening though, he made sure that the S.I. Wildcats' football team would beat Sacred Heart Cathedral and notch a win for the first leg of the Bruce Mahoney trophy competition. A St. Ignatius College Preparatory graduate of 1965, as well as a humble coach, teacher and leader there, he knew when to call in his favors.

Charlie was a renowned educator, a father, a husband, and friend to many. In his more than four decades as a teacher, administrator and principal at St. Ignatius College Preparatory in San Francisco, he influenced thousands of students and fellow teachers. The goodness that he created and inspired will live on through them thanks to his generosity, humility, talent, and devotion to Jesuit education.

Born Feb. 20, 1947, Charlie was named in honor of his grandfather, who served as SFPD chief in the 1940s. His parents, Ed and Adele, raised him in the West Portal district of SF as a fifth-generation San Franciscan, along with his older brother, Ed, who preceded him in death, and his younger sister, Mary. His two educator Jesuit uncles (one of whom served as president of USF) influenced him greatly. After graduating from St. Cecilia School, he attended SI and USF, where he excelled as a student leader and basketball player, earning a four-year scholarship to USF along the way.

His father, Ed, was his biggest SI and USF basketball fan. Pattie Brown, a Santa Clara University Bronco, joined the fan club when Charlie was in college and rooted for him despite her loyalty to the Broncos, local rivals of the USF Dons. Charlie and Pattie were later engaged and happily married for 55 years.

After obtaining his college degree, Charlie moved with Pattie to Indianapolis and Killeen, Texas where Charlie served in the U.S. Army's Adjutant Generals' Corps. He helped countless soldiers with their requests for "early outs" and made use of his athleticism, competing for the Army in basketball, football, and team handball. He retired with the rank of Captain in 1972 to begin his career at SI as an English teacher.

When his daughter, Jennifer Brooke Dullea, was born in 1973, he took his one and only day off from his teaching career. Along the way, he also served as an English department chair and assistant principal. Then, following a national search in 1997, SI asked him to serve as its first lay principal, a post he held until 2008. As principal, he instituted the Excellence in Teaching Program, designed to improve the quality of classroom teaching, and the office of professional development, which led to SI being named among the top 12 in the nation in that regard. He also launched the Adult Spirituality Program to help teachers grow in their understanding of Ignatian Spirituality and weave it into their work. He made SI a more inclusive and diverse school through the Magis Program and the first Student Support Service Program. His work earned the admiration of Jesuit administrators around the country, who sent future Jesuit priests to SI to teach summer school and learn directly from Charlie.

He taught English before, during, and after his time as principal. Charlie also coached basketball and tennis and as moderator of the Service Club and Student Council remained involved in the athletic and service aspect of student life. He retired in 2019 after a record 46 years on the job.

In retirement Charlie and Pattie (a career K-8 educator), moved to Napa and devoted themselves to volunteering in the community and at St. Apollinaris School and Parish. They continued their devotion as a multigenerational family with Jennifer and her son Grant. Grant benefitted greatly from having Charlie, whom he called "Poppy," as a role model and mentor. Jennifer and Grant are the recipients of Charlie's goodness, humility, athleticism, dry sense of humor, wisdom, love of music and Pedro, books, daily parenting and grandfathering. Grant is thriving as a human being, a competitive tennis player, and an honors student at Justin-Siena High School in Napa. Charlie wanted to honor Grant's efforts and his dedicated teachers at Justin-Siena High School by establishing an endowed scholarship fund in his name. How Charlie to think of teachers and students as he left his earthly life.

He was Charlie to his friends, Chas to Pattie, beloved Diddy to Jennifer, Poppy to Grant, Uncle Charlie to his many nieces, nephews and godsons, and Mr. Dullea to a record 46 years of SI students and colleagues.

On Dec. 20, Charlie and Pattie's 55th wedding anniversary, Charlie was inurned in the " Garden of Peace" during a private prayer service at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. A later "Celebration of Life" in Napa will take place in March. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the "Charlie Dullea Memorial Endowment" scholarship fund for students at Justin-Siena High School in Napa. Contact Andrea Flores at aflores@justin-siena.org to make a donation or go to www.justin-siena.org/support-js/make-a-gift.