Will Vujovich

1932 - 2013

Will Vujovich
Aug 21, 1932 - July 29-2013
Resident of Walnut Creek
Passed away peacefully in Walnut Creek on July 29, 2013.
Born in Mahanoy City, PA to Jelena & John Vujovich, who immigrated to the U.S. from Montenegro in the mid-1920's. When her husband died in 1935 of injuries suffered tn the coal mines, Jelena was urged by the children's godfather to move to West Hazelton, PA. After working in a clothing mill for a couple of years, she married Savo Plamenac, a family friend.
Will and his siblings spent their childhood years there until 1944 when the family moved to Oregon because of Savo's health, and one year later, they moved again to San Francisco. He attended Presidio and George Washington High School where he excelled both academically and socially, participating very actively in class activities while working every day after school for 4 hours to help with family expenses.
He was an integral part of organizing his high school class reunions over 60 years and has maintained life-long friendships with many classmates.
After military service during the Korean War, he returned to complete his BA degree at S. F. State Univ., and following a long courtship he married Patricia, (nee Kerchum), his lovely wife who helped him through the high and low points over 52 years of marriage. They have two wonderful and caring daughters, Marnie Finnerty and Lisa Rigisich, that he was so proud of and loved very much. And he was especially proud of his five grandchildren: Kevin, Katie, and Michael Finnerty and Ray & Nik Rigisich.
Will enjoyed a successful career, first at UC Berkeley as a Placement Supvr. for engineering students. He was then recruited by the Personnel Partner at Lybrand, Ross Bros. and Mtgy. a national CPA firm, to be their Admin. & Pers. Mgr. in San Francisco. The firm merged with Coopers and Lybrand and Will remained in his position. He recruited and hired many of the employees who became partners in the firm.
After leaving C&L, he established a human resource consulting firm, doing work for several major law firms in the city. He also worked at Goldman Ins.and at Calif. Energy Co. where he hired most of the employees who helped to build and operate the geothermal plant at Coso Junction, CA.
He was very active in the Serbian Orthodox Church for more than 50 years, as Church President for several years and as a Church Board member. He also directed the Church Acapella Choir at Holy Trinity for many years.
Will is survived by his wife, Patricia, sisters Jean Olson of Huntington Beach, Dolly Hendrickson of Walnut Creek, brother Mike of San Jose, several nieces and nephews and other relatives in the U.S. and Europe.
A memorial service will be held at Holy Trinity Serbian Orthodox Church, 1700 School St. in Moraga, CA 94556 at 7:00pm on Thursday, Aug. 1st. A private family funeral service and interment will be held in the Chapel at the Serbian Cemetery in Colma. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memorial donations in his honor be made to Holy Trinity.