Born in San Jose, CA and raised in Campbell, CA. Played football, soccer, and baseball at Campbell High School. Attended Claremont Men’s College (baseball and soccer) and graduated from San Jose State University. Attained CA Life-Time Teaching and Substitute Teacher Credentials. Worked thirty-three years as a First Responder: for San Jose Ambulance Company, the City of Santa Cruz, the City of Milpitas, and the last twenty-five years with the City of San Jose. Taught Fire Science at Mission College, San Jose Fire Department Training Academies, Ca State Fire Marshal Accredited Local Academy, South Bay Regional Public Safety Academy, established a Police & Firefighter Academy for Eastside Union High School District, and was a substitute at Valley Christian, Ann Sobrato, Gilroy, and Hollister-San Benito High Schools. Coached Football, Baseball, and Soccer for thirty-five years for various youth programs-including Hollister Pop Warner-and at the High Schools of Valley Christian, Ann Sobrato, Gilroy, and Hollister-San Benito. Worked fifteen years as a Sports Official (Umpire) for Peninsula Sports, Inc.
Professional career positions held included E.M.T. on an ambulance, Firefighter-E.M.T., Engineer, Inspector, Lieutenant, Captain, Training Officer, City of San Jose Assistant Fire Marshal, and Battalion Chief. Professional certifications in the State of California as an Incident Commander, Strike Team Leader, Hazardous Materials Responder, Urban Search & Rescue, Weapons of Mass Destruction, and worked assignments with Secret Service, Homeland Security, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Wrote the San Jose Firefighter Training Academy Curriculum. Responsible for a five-million-dollar budget in the Bureau of Fire Prevention-San Jose. As an appointed Director for the San Benito County Water District, and as an appointed and elected Director for Sunnyslope County Water District, managed eighteen million dollars of investments, and as Board President for two years, oversaw twenty-million-dollar budgets for water and waste water operations.
Completed training and certification(s) as a Master (Holistic) Life Coach. Founder, curriculum creator, and owner of BuzzettaQuette, LLC (BuzzettaQuette.com). Currently enrolled and pursuing a Master of Science degree in Psychology.
This is Jerry’s third year as the Success Mentor for the IFL’s 2023 National Championship Bay Area Panthers Organization. In his role, he acts as an advisor, makes team building and character development presentations to the team-including topics like overcoming adversity, mental toughness, how to be successful, what is a professional, faith as a power booster, living with pain, coping skills, parenting, finances, relationship building-and, does intervention by providing group and (individual) personal counseling sessions to players and staff.
Jerry has been with his high school sweetheart Barbara for almost fifty-three years, married for almost forty-six years. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren and enjoy traveling, family, and time at the lake.