Tony Pighetti. Courtesy photo.
SANTA BARBARA — One805 mourns the loss of our board member, colleague and friend, Tony Pighetti, who was a tireless advocate for the mental wellness of our First Responders. A retired firefighter with 30 years in the City of Santa Barbara Fire Department, Tony selflessly volunteered his time and talents to ensure our bravest, among whom he was counted and loved, had resources to help them get counseling and support.
Tony’s family reported him missing when he did not return last night. A large-scale search was mounted by Local law enforcement, fire resources, Santa Barbara City Harbor Patrol and the United States Coast Guard. Search efforts continued overnight, and a Coast Guard search team located him early Wednesday morning, but efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
Tony spearheaded One805’s mental wellness campaign, and worked with counseling agencies, our Board, and our generous donors to ensure that the program was available 24/7. Under his guidance, the program has gone from strength to strength, providing support to all Santa Barbara County Firefighters and their families. It continues to become more robust every day, because of his extraordinary efforts.
Tony’s loss will be acutely felt by our County’s First Responders and all of us at One805. Please pray for his family and lend them your strength. If you are a First Responder struggling with emotional challenges, please benefit from Tony’s legacy and reach out for help by calling 1-800-222-9691 (24/7/365).
About One805: In the aftermath of the Thomas fire and subsequent mudslides “One805” was created, hosting the largest non-profit event in Santa Barbara History – The Kick Ash Bash! It brought together actors, entertainers, singers, performers, and most of all, our community in a spirit of healing. First Responders and their families were treated to an amazing day where we were able to put the tragedy behind us. Thanks to the efforts of many, over $2 million was raised to provide counseling support to First Responders and purchase equipment to directly support victims of the tragedy.