Anthony Nizetich

1923 - 2016

Anthony Vincent Nizetich 2/1/1923 – 9/1/2016

Anthony V. Nizetich passed away peacefully on September 1, 2016. Born to Tom and Zorka (Thomas) Nizetich on February 1, 1923 in San Pedro. Anthony attended 15th Street Elementary School, Mary Star and San Pedro High School where he was president of both of his senior classes. He followed by attending USC where he received his Bachelors of Science, joined the naval ROTC, and as a commissioned Lieutenant served 2 years in the south pacific theatre as a navigator on liberty ships. After an honorable discharge, he transferred to Southwestern Law School where he earned his JD degree. He passed the bar in 1952 and practiced law for 3 years as well as taught business law at Los Angeles Harbor College and worked with the American Institute for Banking in the Harbor area. Soon thereafter he took a position with the Fisherman's Co-Op Association and represented CA boat owners in both Sacramento and Washington DC. His mother's brother, Assemblyman Vincent Thomas (for whom the bridge to Terminal Island is named) was an inspiration to Anthony and fostered in him a lifelong love of the law and the legislative process. Appointed by John F. Kennedy to the American Advisory Board on fisheries, he also served as President of the National Canners Association and Chairman of the San Pedro's Fisherman's Fiesta. He was also instrumental in organizing the Naval ROTC Alumni Association and served on its board. Hired by Star Kist Foods as Director of Government Relations, he served the company, and later its parent HJ Heinz Company for several years in Washington DC, until his retirement in 1985. He often said that he felt his greatest achievements in this industry was assisting in the writing of the Law of the Sea (200 mile Limit) and securing government funded tuna vessels to help maintain the local fishing industry.

After retirement he saw his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant come to fruition when Nizetich's Restaurant opened to the public in 1983. The restaurant was operated by his entire family and came to be known as the premier fine dining destination in the South Bay. Thousands of customers from near and far enjoyed its beautiful waterfront location, excellent food, and lovely banquet facilities. He retired from the restaurant business in 1992, but stayed active in the Bar Association and formed a consultancy where he routinely advised friends and colleagues on any number of business ventures.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Josephine (Vitalich), his daughters Josetta Spychaj and Antoinette Soto, and his son Tom, and was preceded in death by his eldest daughter Lucille McArthur and his older sister Winifred Burin. He leaves behind seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren as well as many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends and associates.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers a donation can be made to the San Pedro Peninsula Cancer Guild (#7 Wagon Wheel Lane, Rolling Hills, CA 90274) or to the USC Naval ROTC Alumni League (3560 Watt way, #101, Los Angeles, CA 90089).

The family would also like to thank the Little Company of Mary San Pedro Hospital ICU Unit, and Trinity Hospice Staff for the best care that they could have wished for.

Services will be held at Mary Star of the Sea Parish in San Pedro, Thursday September 8 at 10:30am. Please sign the guestbook at mcnerneysmortuary.com or dailybreeze.com.