On December 8, 2016, our Dad, Anthony J. Escover ’55 passed away exactly how he wanted, peacefully and surrounded by his family. He led an exemplary life and achieved legendary status to everyone who loved and admired him. A California native, Anthony was raised to be both highly educated and a farmer. Graduating from Bellarmine College Prep and then receiving a Mechanical Engineering degree from Santa Clara in 1955, he would set out to combine both disciplines while raising a family. Anthony worked for FMC for 25 plus years working on such notable projects as the Bradley tank and traveling the world representing the improved processes for coal mining equipment.
Anthony was a true family man and very proud of his six children–Cathy Warshawsky ’81, David F. Escover ’83 (deceased), Lorraine (Otis), Janette (Johnson), Joan Escover ’86, J.D. ’90 and Yvonne (O’Connor)–instilling in us all the value of hard work and the pride that comes from doing a job well. He was an entrepreneur too, starting a Hydroponic Greenhouse and selling tomatoes under the TP label, all while continuing to farm walnuts and other crops on the ranch. Dad loved parties and get togethers, always loving to bring family and friends together for whatever the occasion.
Dad was a jack-of-all-trades, building our family home, and later his residence in Hollister, Calif. Dad was innovative, attempting to plant macadamia nuts in northern California and later changing it out to Vineyards (Idyll Time) where he grew Zinfandel, Syrah, and Pinot Noir wine grapes, selling them to wineries like Pessagno, Calera and Leal who made them into exceptional wine.
Dad was adventurous, instilling the love of boating, camping, hunting, and fishing to his children and grandchildren. A stickler for rules and processes, he would make his grandchildren (16) take gun safety courses before he would allow them to partake in these recreational activities on the ranch. He was quite a sharpshooter himself, proud of his military background often joking how his base was never attacked while he was on watch!
Dad was sharp as a whip until the very end, being able to spout out mathematical formulas, Dad “truisms” or just being able to find the answers whether it be looking up in his own almanac or eventually learning how to use Google to find the answers.
Dad gave us everything we needed and he will surely continue to watch over us all in Heaven. Please come celebrate with us, this exemplary man.