Charles Egidio Bettinelli Jr.

Charles Egidio Bettinelli Jr., born in Napa, California, December 8, 1974 and passed May 4, 2015 in San Diego, California.

Charles began his education at Valley of the Moon Nursery School, St. Francis Solano School, El Verano Elementary and Altimira Junior High, where he received the Daughters of American Revolution Award. A multi-sport athlete and student at Sonoma Valley High School, he played football, basketball and baseball. Charles received the SVHS Football

Scholar-Athlete Award for two years in a row. In his senior year he received the National Scholar Athlete Association Award. Charles was a lifetime member of California Scholarship Federation. He was inducted into the Sonoma Valley High School Dragon Hall of Fame in 2010.

After graduating high school in 1993, Charles studied at the Columbia University School of Engineering and Applied Sciences in New York. In 1998, he received a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering. He was a member of Tau Beta Pi, the Engineering Honor Society (he was in the top 5% of his class). Charles also received a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics from Columbia University’s Columbia College in 1998. He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity at Columbia.

He played defensive end for Columbia University’s Division I-AA Varsity Football team. This is a quote from the newspaper: “Because of his maturity and skill he played on the varsity squad as a freshman, became starting defensive end for the Lions and helped his team become a force in the Ivy League.” The student newspaper reported: “Though not blessed with a great deal of size, Bettinelli has always been physical and intense, and has gotten bigger and stronger every year.” His 1996 team was recently inducted into the Columbia University Athletics Hall of Fame.

After college he worked at Merrill Lynch in Investment Banking as a Financial Analyst in New York. Later he went on to work for Ixia, IneoQuest Technologies, Xirius, and Aerohive Networks as a Sales & Regional Manager/Director. He was currently employed at Ruckus as a Regional Sales Manager.

Charles was a calm, quiet spoken, easy-going man of few words yet also with a quick wit. Charles revered his father’s great work ethic. He worked hard yet had the temperament to also play and enjoy life.

Charles also enjoyed outdoor sports, including fishing and hunting. He took many family camping trips to Canby, California. In his young years he was a member of Mission 4-H and had numerous market swine projects. He also tackled puzzles, board games, card games and enjoyed karaoke. He was currently an assistant coach for his son’s baseball team, the Rangers (Redondo Beach). He loved working out in the gym and staying physically fit. He recently completed the Surf City Half Marathon in February.

Charles is survived by his son Nicolas Giovanni McKinley Bettinelli, for whom he had complete adoration and unconditional love. Nicolas was his world and his passion. Charles was an amazing father.

Charles is also survived by his beloved parents, Charles Bettinelli Sr. and Patricia (Patt) Bettinelli; his sisters Alfreda Bettinelli Hawkins (San Diego) and Therese Bettinelli Calvelo (American Canyon); his brother Dominic Bettinelli (Sebastopol); brother-in-law Gregory Calvelo; sister-in-law Erin Ellis Bettinelli; niece and nephews Faith Calvelo, Jackson Calvelo, Charles Hawkins, Cameron Ellis, Mila Bettinelli, Harry Bettinelli and Catcher Bettinelli, as well as numerous aunts, uncles and cousins. He is also survived by his former wife, Amanda Miller Bettinelli, and his longtime companion, Berenice Gomez.

A Visitation (open to all) will be held at Duggans Mission Chapel, 525 W. Napa St., Sonoma, on Wednesday, May 13, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Thursday, May 14, there will be a Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Leo’s Catholic Church, 601 Agua Caliente Road in Sonoma, at 1 p.m. there will be a Celebration of Life for Charles at the Hanna Boys Center, 17000 Arnold Drive in Sonoma.

The family has opened a 529 College fund for Nicolas, in memory of his father. Make checks payable to Fidelity Investments (FBO Nicolas Bettinelli, A/C 618916783) at P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277.