Resident of Santa Clara Valley Jim passed away peacefully on Friday the 13th after battling Alzheimer’s Dementia for the past 5 years. He was preceded in death by his parents Joseph and Anita (Smith) Amaral, and his wife of 50 years Betty (French) Amaral. He is survived by his brother, Alan Amaral, son Michael (& wife Susan), daughter Lisa Lange, and grandchildren Joseph, Jimmy, Alex Amaral, and Savannah Maduro, and great grandchildren Jake Amaral, and Mathew & Jackson Cruz.

Jim, and his brother Alan, were lucky enough to be raised in the middle of the family orchards in Santa Clara, off Pomeroy. He attended Santa Clara High, where he met his future wife, Betty. Jim enlisted in the Navy at 18 years and became a Korean War veteran.

He was a proud member of the Machinist union for over 45 years. He worked at FMC in Santa Clara for 42 years, traveling the world as a certified master welder.

He loved motors! Be it a ’54 Chevy, Harley or dirtbike- The man could fix it! He would bring a portable welder to son Michael’s motocross races, and repaired many cracked frames for other racers. He never charged a penny!

That was his way. He rode his Harley into his eighties and took many a trip with family and friends.

Jim also loved horses and rode them for summer employment at the Smith ranch in Blocksburg, CA. He passed on his love for horses to his daughter Lisa, and loved riding with her.

He was a great father and generous man who often referred to himself as an old “Santa Clara Valley Portuguese kid raised an Englishman”. He will be forever loved and missed by those he left behind.

A celebration of life honoring Jim will be held at Darling Fischer Chapel of the Hills, 615 N. Santa Cruz Ave., Los Gatos, CA on March 3, 2023 at 11:00 am.