Alberto Bernardino Da Cunha

Alberto (Al) Bernardino Da Cunha
September 2, 1939 – April 30, 2026

Alberto “Al” Bernardino Da Cunha passed away peacefully on April 30, 2026, at the age of 86, surrounded by his loving family.

Born on September 2, 1939, in Hong Kong, B.C.C., Al was the eldest son of Eneas and Luiza da Cunha. In February 1959, he immigrated to San Francisco with his family and later settled in Daly City, California. It was there, living across the street from Kathe’s family, that a lifelong love story began. Al and Kathe would go on to share 60 wonderful years of marriage, building a life centered on love, family, friendship, and adventure.

Al dedicated his professional life to serving others. After beginning his career with the Daly City Fire Department, Al joined the San Francisco Fire Department, where he dedicated 31 years of service to protecting the community. Through hard work, leadership, and commitment, he rose through the ranks and retired as an Assistant Chief. His fire service career was a source of great pride and reflected the values by which he lived - integrity, courage, and service to others.

Al and Kathe moved to Fairfax in 1967, where they raised their family and spent the remainder of their lives together. Following retirement, Al embraced the activities he loved most. An avid hunter and fisherman, he treasured time spent outdoors. He also enjoyed watching sports and looked forward each year to trips to Arizona to watch the SF Giants during Spring Training.

Al and Kathe shared a passion for travel and created countless memories exploring the country in their RV, taking cruises, and enjoying adventures together. Family vacations were especially meaningful to him, with cherished trips to Yosemite, Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, Disneyland, and many other destinations that brought generations together.

Those who knew Al will also remember him for his love of cooking. Family and friends eagerly gathered around his barbecue, savored his lamb curry and homemade Chinese dishes, and especially enjoyed his famous fried won tons. His meals were more than food - they were an expression of his generosity, warmth, and love for bringing people together.

Above all else, he cherished his family and took immense pride in the lives and accomplishments of those he loved.

Al is survived by his beloved wife, Kathe; daughter, Jackie Jeffries (Scott); sons, Greg Da Cunha (Shelli) and Matt Da Cunha; and his seven grandchildren, Ryan, Colten, Alec, Julia, Mikaela, Samantha, and Niko. He is also survived by his sister, Angela Zerbe, along with many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eneas and Luiza da Cunha; his sister, Maria Gagnon; and his brother, Nick da Cunha.

Al will be remembered for his unwavering devotion to his family, his distinguished career in the fire service, his adventurous spirit, and the kindness and humor he shared with everyone fortunate enough to know him. His legacy lives on in the family he cherished and the countless lives he touched.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Rita Catholic Church in Fairfax, CA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Al’s memory to breakthroughT1D.org or to the San Francisco Firefighters Cancer Prevention Foundation (sffcpf.org).

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