By Jessica Breheny, President, AFT 6157
I first got to know Barry Del Buono as a colleague. Barry taught Social Problems, and I taught composition courses with research paper assignments that asked students to identify – and propose solutions for — local community problems. We often shared students who wanted to combine their research work in both of our classes, leading to some ad hoc learning communities that invited us to collaborate to help students accomplish compelling research on various social issues. There was one particular student who wanted to work on a project about college and career advising for formerly incarcerated students. He was in Barry’s Social Problems class and my English 1C. That student ended up helping with the formation of a program at San Jose City College for formerly incarcerated students before transferring to UC Berkeley to continue his work. Barry and I also collaborated to help a homeless student who was very academically gifted and motivated to work on researching homelessness in San Jose.
I was beyond delighted when Barry got involved with the union board as an Associate Faculty Representative and joined the bargaining team. Barry served on the bargaining team for three rounds. He brought decades of knowledge with him to the table from his community and political work. He was always steady and calm in the face of adversity and conflict. He was generally quiet, so I always knew that when he spoke up, I should listen.
Barry continued to work for the benefit of our faculty and our District until the very end of his life. For the last few years, he was focused on project to build affordable housing for students and faculty in our district. The last time I saw him was at a bargaining team meeting last November, and his wife, Mai Le, shared with me that on December 26th, the day he passed away, he was still grading in the hospital.
It was devastating to get the news of Barry’s passing just after Christmas. He will be dearly missed as a union brother, as a colleague, and as a friend.
Dear District Community, Sent via District Email on January 12, 2026
It is with a heavy heart that I share the sad news of the recent passing of longtime SJCC faculty member Barry Del Buono. In addition to his time at SJCC, Barry lived a life of service to others, first as a Roman Catholic priest and later as a social worker.
Barry was co-founder of Loaves & Fishes Family Kitchen, which opened in San Jose in 1980. He went on to lead EHC LifeBuilders, where he helped transform the region’s response to homelessness. For more than 40 years, Barry worked to launch and expand programs and partnerships that provided shelter, housing, and support services for thousands of individuals in need.
He was also recently selected as Alumni of the Year by his alma mater, St. Patrick’s Seminary, for his work with the homeless and underserved. Through his work on campus and beyond, Barry personified our District’s values of Opportunity, Equity, and Social Justice.
This article, published over the weekend in the Mercury News, shares additional details about Barry’s life:
Barry Del Buono, 74, was a force of nature in San Jose’s nonprofit community
A memorial mass will be held on January 16 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Cathedral Basilica in downtown San Jose.
Please join me in keeping Barry’s loved ones in your thoughts during this difficult time.
In community spirit,
Dr. Beatriz Chaidez
SJECCD Chancellor