Tristan E. G. Krogius

Tristan (Tris) Krogius, 88, passed away peacefully on December 30, 2021. He was born in Tammerfors, Finland and emigrated to New York with his mother, Valborg, a U.S. citizen and his brother, Henrik, in 1939 as a refugee from the Russian invasion of Finland. His father, Helge, remained in Finland until after the end of WW2 when he joined his family in Brooklyn Heights. Tris graduated from the Choate School and received a B.A. from the University of New Mexico in 1954, which he attended on an NROTC scholarship. He then served on active duty as a Marine Corps officer from 1954-1960. While a sophomore at UNM, he gave his Phi Delta Theta Fraternity pin to a young freshman, Barbara Brophy of New Rochelle, NY, and they became inseparable. During summer break in 1952, at the height of the Korean War, the couple eloped the day before Tris had to report back to UNM because their parents refused their plans to marry and Barbara's father had pulled her out of UNM to separate them. Both families then reconciled to the marriage and the couple set up housekeeping in Albuquerque.
Following Tris's graduation and commissioning, their first child, Ferril, was born at Camp Pendleton on Tris's birthday in 1956 with a son, Lars (Tony), following in 1957 in New Rochelle while Barbara was awaiting orders to join Tris in Morocco where the family had a wonderful extended tour during which a daughter, Karin, was born. On the family's return to the U.S., Tris resigned from active duty and began his business career as a salesman in Los Angeles for Scott Paper Co. He then progressed through marketing positions at Scott and Hunt-Wesson Foods in Fullerton to president of Hunt-Wesson Foods of Canada, Ltd. The family, by now having added Eric, Mimi and Becky moved to Oakville, Ontario where they planned and began construction of their dream home on a lot purchased in Monarch Bay Terrace in hope of returning to California. Two years later that came about with a new assignment as president of the H-W Frozen & Refrigerated Foods division in Fullerton in 1971. They moved into their new home and have kept it for the past 50 years as their family homestead despite maintaining second homes in Carmel when Tris moved to Dalgety, Ltd. of London's U.S. food division as president and, then, in Bakersfield where he retired in 1987 as president and C.E.O. of Tenneco West, a successor to the historic Kern County Land Company, on the sale of that company to Castle & Cooke.
During his business career, Tris earned an M.A. in American Studies from CSU, Los Angeles and attended Harvard's Advanced Management Program. Tris was a director of Barclays Bank of California from 1983 until its sale to Wells Fargo in 1988. After retiring, he earned a Juris Doctor degree in 1990 from Western State University and was admitted to the California Bar. He then taught law as an adjunct professor at WSU for five years and was active in and recognized by the Public Law Center, Santa Ana, for his pro bono activities. He valued the "Golden Apple" awards from the Student Bar for his teaching and public service. Tris was active in community affairs, was a past Board President and C.E.O. of South Coast Medical Center (now Providence Mission Hospital) and was a director of numerous other non-profit organizations. He served as legal and financial chair of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning which was a leading force in defeating the El Toro commercial airport plan. He and Barbara have been deeply involved in St. Catherine School, Laguna Beach.
Tris was devoted to his wife and family and proud that all the grandchildren have graduated, or about to graduate, college and are embarked on their careers with two being lawyers and the rest engaged in a variety of businesses. Tris is survived by his wife, Barbara, of 69 years, his six children: Ferril Onyett (Jack); Tony (Stephanie); Karin Krogius (Scott Mason); Eric (Kathleen), Mimi Walters (David); and Becky Radusovsky (Steve), 19 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. His entire extended family loved and adored him and are so grateful for his wisdom, guidance, advice and teachable trips to Del Mar Racetrack. He had the ability to make each of us feel special. Dad and Granddaddy will be remembered for the extraordinary example he set as a husband, father, father-in-law, grandfather, business executive, attorney and philanthropist. We will miss you terribly and you are always in our hearts.
The family is planning a Celebration of Life to honor his legacy. In lieu of flowers, the Krogius Family invites you to make a memorial donation to Providence Mission Hospital [https://supportmissionhospital.org] in honor of Tris.