Johnny Curutchet 1946-2024
Bertsos in Honor of Johnny: Amets Arzallus, Maddalen Arzallus, Xabi Paya | Photo Gallery | Obituary
Johnny Curutchet was born in San Francisco, California, in 1946, moving back to Ezterenzubi, Baxenabarre, two years later with his parents. Even though Ezterenzubi was on the French side of the Basque Country, his parents did not speak French, though his father spoke Euskara, English and some Spanish.
As a young man, Curutchet, engaged in contraband across the Spanish/French border with the people in Orbaitzeta and Garralda, Nafarroa. In 1966, Curutchet returned to South San Francisco, where he still lives. He arrived on a Friday afternoon, and by Saturday morning was hired to work as a gardener. A year later he started his own company with three full-time workers.
Curutchet became involved in many activities of the Basque Club and the Basque Cultural Center, and served as President for both. Curutchet has been improvising poetry for over forty years. He has sung with Ezponda in Euskadi, the great Xalbador - and his son - in San Francisco and Chino, and is a regular bertsolari singer at N.A.B.O.’s annul Euskal Kantari Eguna (Joxe Mallea-Olaetxe, Shooting from the Lip, 2003).
Bertsos in Honor of Johnny
Obituary
Jean "Johnny" Curutchet
05/10/1946 - 11/26/2024
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Jean (Johnny) Curutchet on November 26, at the age of 78.
Born in San Francisco at the French Hospital on May 10, 1946, Johnny's family soon returned to Esterencuby, France, where he spent his youth immersed in the rich traditions of Basque culture.
In 1966, at the age of 20, Johnny moved back to the U.S., settling in South San Francisco, where he lived for over 50 years. He quickly built a successful gardening business, but his true passion lay in preserving and celebrating Basque culture and sharing it with others. Johnny's love for music was at the heart of everything he did. A talented musician, he played the trumpet in the San Francisco Basque Club's Klika and sang in the Elgarrekin choir. He was also an acclaimed Bertsolari, a revered Basque tradition of
improvisational poetry sung with deep emotion. Johnny was honored by the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington D.C. for his contributions to cultural diversity, and his talent in Bertsolaritza earned him numerous awards in competitions both here and in the Basque Country.
Beyond music, Johnny was a pillar in the local community. He was a founding member and President of the San Francisco Basque Cultural Center and the San Francisco Basque Club, where he proudly promoted Basque customs and heritage. He also danced with the Zazpiak Bat group and loved playing pilota. His commitment to his community extended to his membership in several organizations, including the South San Francisco Elks Club, the Franco-American Lodge of Odd Fellows, and the Chasseurs. He was a parishioner at St. Veronica's Catholic Church in South San Francisco.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jean and Anne of Esterencuby, France; his brothers, Sebastian and Michel; and sister-in-law, Marie-Jeanne. He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary (Kelly); sons, Thomas (Teri) and Michael (Nina); grandson, Cameron Jean; sisters-in-law, Josephine Curutchet and Patricia Kelly; brother-in-law, Jim Kelly; and many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews both here and in France.
The family is deeply grateful to the doctors and staff at the South San Francisco Kaiser Permanente Hospital for their compassionate care during Johnny's illness. Johnny will be remembered for his love of music, his devotion to his Basque heritage, and the deep joy he brought to his family, friends, and community. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.
Friends may visit on Friday, December 6, 2024, from 4 to 8pm at Duggan's Serra Mortuary, 500 Westlake Ave, Daly City with a Rosary starting at 7pm. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated the following day on December 7, 2024, at 12pm at St. Veronica's Catholic Church, 434 Alida Way, South San Francisco followed by Burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery, Colma. In lieu of flowers and in memory of Johnny, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or the charity of your choice.
