1943

scmintern@scu.edu

Born on November 27,1919, in Sunnyvale, when the town’s population was 3,000, Raymond Tikvica ’43 graduated from the old Cupertino Grammar School in 1933. He graduated from Bellarmine College Prep in 1937. He attended SCU and was drafted into the Army in 1942. In 1943, he graduated from Officer’s Candidate School and became an Officer in the artillery division as an instructor. After the war, Raymond returned with his brother and continued in the farming business. At one time, they farmed over 800 acres of apricots, cherries, prunes, walnuts, and strawberries. When Santa Clara Valley became Silicon Valley, the family started selling their farms and building commercial properties, which they still own. He was a longtime member of the Sunnyvale Lion’s Club, Palo Alto Elks, St. Martins’ Church, the Bronco Bench Foundation, and Santa Clara County Planning Commission. Besides his occupation, he loved to travel. He started when he was 17 years old, and that passion never ceased. He and wife Jackie traveled to Europe many times on the Concorde and returned on the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and QE2. Ray always said traveling was an education in seeing different people and different cultures. Ray and his brother visited agriculture throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, Europe, South America, New Zealand, and Australia because ranching was their occupation, and they wanted to see foreign operations. In 1968, his brother Nick and Paul Mariani flew around the world some 32 thousand miles, visiting farm operations. The three brothers truly enjoyed their ranching occupation. Ray passed away on Dec. 27, 2017, He is predeceased by brother Lester Tikvica, son Jeffrey Tikvica, and Jackie Tikvica, his wife for 60 years. He leaves his sister, Irene, brother, Nick Tikvica, many nephews, nieces, and many grand nephews and nieces.

08 Nov 2018