1950

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Thomas L. Sapunor Jr. ’50 appears today here on what he referred to as the "Irish Sports Page." He was born and raised in Sacramento, the middle son of Thomas and Myrtle Fay Sapunor. He attended Marshall Elementary, St. Francis of Assisi Elementary and Christian Brothers High School. Upon graduating, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy. After his honorable discharge, he enrolled at Santa Clara University, graduating in 1950. His beloved bride of 65 years, Johanna Hammans, and Tom began their married life together in San Francisco, where their first three children, Timothy, Sally and Jeanne were born. During that time, he survived a bout with polio that hospitalized him for months. Tom’s promotion at Cal Western Life Insurance brought the family back to Sacramento, where sons Peter and Stephen ’82 were born. Tom continued at Cal Western while attending night school at McGeorge College of Law. Upon admittance to the bar, he began his career as a Deputy District Attorney for Sacramento County. After working with his brother John ’41 (Treva Sapunor ’41) at the Wilke, Fleury & Sapunor law firm, he continued his legal career working as an Administrative Law Judge for the State of California for over 20 years. A quintessential gentleman and family man, Tom was a devoted friend, son, brother, husband, father and "Baba" who was proud of his Irish and Croatian immigrant heritage. He cherished time spent at the shores of Tahoe, Carmel, Pacific Grove, Pajaro Dunes, Little River and Angel Island, and at Uncle George’s cabin in Strawberry. Tom was an ardent supporter of his children’s and grand-hildren’s artistic and sporting pursuits; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, barbequing, cocktails, Gilbert and Sullivan, crosswords, Steve Nash and Kurt Rambis, sketching, reading, and traveling. One of Tom’s favorite trips was journeying to Ireland in 1993 with old pals Delaney and Meyers. His favorite movie was "Dawn Patrol" with David Niven and Errol Flynn. Tom loved animals, especially his childhood hunting dog "Buff" and in later life, his Cavaliers Jane and Lucy. Tom was a faithful parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, serving as a lector for decades. In addition to his parents, Tom is predeceased by his uncle George Sapunor, brother the Hon. John M. Sapunor, sister Ellen, nephews Richard Thomas and Michael Benjamin Sapunor, niece Nancy Sapunor, mother-in-law Peggie Dayton, and son-in-law Tim Pfaff. Survived by wife Johanna, brother Dr. Philip Sapunor (Patricia), children Tim (Cathy), Sally, Jeanne (Ralph Davis), Pete (Suzy) and Stephen ’82 (Allison), grandchildren Zack, Rita, Greg, Christine (Yosihai), Grace, Oona, Max, Caitlin, Hannah, Nicholas, Matthew, Rob (Katie), John, and Michael, and great-grandchild Alex. Also survived by nephew the Hon. Jack V. Sapunor ’70 (Vicki), nephew Michael Sapunor (Nancy), niece Jenny Gysin (Warner), and grandnephews Patrick, Adam, Leo and Oscar.

08 Nov 2018