Roy Cunha Brasil
Sept. 30, 1962-Oct. 7, 2026
Pleasanton, USA

In Memoriam: Rui Norberto Da Cunha Bettencourt Brasil, 9/30/62 - 10/07/2026

With faith in God and gratitude for a life devoted to service and family, Roy Cunha Brasil passed away peacefully surrounded by the loved ones he held the most dear on October 7, 2026, in Pleasanton, California, after a short, unexpected battle with cancer. He was 64.

Born on September 30, 1962, in Velas, Sao Jorge, Azores, Portugal, Roy lived a life marked by steady purpose and deep commitment to the people and communities entrusted to his care. A Portuguese immigrant who was immensely proud to be an American citizen, he deeply embraced God, family, and country. Those guiding values were evident throughout his life and work, and they remained at the center of the way he cared for others.

Roy is lovingly remembered by his wife, Cheryl Brasil; his son, Joey Brasil; his daughter, Faith Brasil; his plus daughter, Sabrina Swain; his sister, Elisa Brasil; his brother-in-law, Brian Strang; and his niece, Isabel Brasil-Strang. He was preceded in death by his father, Alberto Bettencourt Brasil, and his mother, Maria Fatima Brasil.

Roy served his country in the Marines, completing four years of active duty from 1981 to 1984 and two years in the reserves from 1984 to 1986, with an honorable discharge as a sergeant. He earned a Good Conduct Medal and Rifle Sharpshooter Badge. That foundation of discipline and service carried forward into a long and distinguished public career.

He began his law enforcement career as a deputy sheriff for Alameda County, where he served for two years. He continued his career with the Newark Police Department, where he served for the next 14 years as a police officer (badge #38), a sexual assault detective, and sergeant (badge #7). He also held ancillary assignments as a field training officer and hostage negotiator. He was elected as president of the Newark Police Officer Association, where he served for many years. He was voted Officer of the Year by his peers in 1989. Roy also earned his Bachelor’s in Business Management from California State East Bay (then Hayward State) while working full-time.

In every assignment, Roy brought leadership that was both practical and personal. He was described as supportive and inclusive, and he was highly respected by those who served alongside him. He was seen as an exceptional leader who motivated his team to become better together and who individually encouraged others to provide exceptional service to the residents of Newark. Roy often said that his time working on the streets of Newark was the highlight of his law enforcement career.

He continued his public service with the San Mateo County Probation Department, where he served for almost 20 more years. There, he again applied his leadership expertise and quickly advanced to the position of Deputy Chief, also serving as Acting Chief. He developed the inaugural firearms training program for the department, and served as Lead Firearms Instructor for many years. He was instrumental with the restructuring of the San Mateo County Juvenile Hall following an escape in 2009, and officer safety training for institutions and creating the safety response team for institutions.

His work across these decades reflected a life given not to recognition, but to responsibility, guidance, and the daily effort of helping others and strengthening the institutions he served. Roy was very humble about his public service refusing to accept any benefits or discounts offered for his service in the military or law enforcement.

Even after retirement from sworn service, Roy’s calling to teach and mentor did not end. He shared his knowledge and experience with students in Administration of Justice Studies at Mission College as an Adjunct Professor. His supervisor, Jeff Cormier, stated the following: “Roy was an accomplished and deeply respected professor on our campus and a core leader in our Associate of Science degree program. He also played an instrumental role in developing our Behavioral Health Worker pathway within the Rising Scholars program, serving students incarcerated in the Santa Clara County jail system. Drawing upon his extensive professional experience, Roy helped us integrate Administration of Justice into the Behavioral Health Worker pathway, connecting public safety, behavioral health, and education in ways that created meaningful opportunities for our students. What I will remember most about Roy was his remarkable ability to connect with students from all walks of life. He approached everyone with dignity, compassion, and genuine respect. He believed in second chances, recognized potential where others might see limitations, and had a rare gift for making students feel valued and capable of building a better future.” Jeff added, “As a way of honoring Roy's life and legacy, we intend to establish a scholarship in his name to support student veterans at Mission College. I can think of no more meaningful way to recognize his lifelong commitment to service and education than by helping veterans pursue their own educational goals. My hope is that this scholarship will carry forward Roy's belief in the potential of others and his dedication to creating opportunities for students.”

Beyond his profession, Roy remained deeply connected to the Portuguese community. He served on the Board of Directors for the Newark Portuguese Band, Filarmonica Recreio Do Emigrante Portuguese (SFREP), where his son, Joey, played the saxophone for many years. More recently, he served on the Board of Directors for the P.F.S.A.-Portuguese Hall of Hayward. He also enjoyed traveling to his homeland in the Azores, a place that remained an important part of his identity.

For all the responsibility he carried in public life, Roy was also a very private person. Family was his whole world. He was very proud of his children, and wife whom he met at the Newark Police Department. His tight nuclear family, known as the "Brasil Peeps," was the center of his love and attention. He proudly traveled with them, mentored them, counseled them, and safeguarded them. He was also available whenever anyone in his extended family or in the Portuguese, law enforcement, or education community called him for support or advice. He made everyone feel special and loved. His family included two dogs and two cats who he also loved dearly, but he had a special relationship with the Chihuahua mix named Bica.

Roy was known to all for his amazing wit and brilliant mind. He was an avid reader who studied the yearly Almanac and loved History, Military, Aviation, Politics, Geography, and Marine Biology. His razor-sharp memory made for an excellent conversationalist in any social setting. He was also remembered fondly for hosting fantastic Christmas parties for family, colleagues, neighbors, and friends, and providing Thanksgiving dinners at the Juvenile Hall, and bringing in doughnuts and Portuguese treats to work.

With prayers for eternal rest and thanksgiving for a life so fully given, Roy Brasil will warmly and lovingly be remembered for his unwavering service, and his devotion to his family, friends, colleagues and mentees-and profoundly missed by all.

Tags: veteran, public service