Mark John Traikoff Sr.

Mark John Traikoff, Sr. On Thursday, March 24, 2005, Mark J. Traikoff, Sr., of Sonora, succumbed after a brief and mostly painless bout with cancer, following visits that day by his four children, Mary Wickersham of San Ramon, Mark J. Traikoff, Jr., of Danville, Lisa Traikoff-Pizzo of Santa Cruz, and John Traikoff, his youngest child, who had been his companion and care-giver during the last couple of years of his life. He was also visited on that day by his granddaughter, Kathryn Wickersham of Pleasanton. Mark was preceded in death by his wife of almost fifty years, Bea Traikoff, who died in May 1998, and his sisters, Florence Henry and Dorothy Fowler. He is survived by his sister, Lano Trussler of Pismo Beach, his brother-in-law Vince Troisi of San Jose, his close family friend John Denhart of Campbell, his grandchildren, Parker Traikoff of Danville, Sara Pizzo of Santa Cruz, Scott Traikoff of Los Osos, and Kathryn Wickersham of Pleasanton, and her father Steve Wickersham of Pleasanton, as well as many nieces and nephews in Northern and Southern California.

Mark was born to Marko and Sara Traikoff in San Jose on March 6, 1922, where he attended St. Joseph's Elementary School and then Bellarmine College Preparatory (he still attended class reunions for both schools on a regular basis). Upon graduation from Bellarmine in 1940, he had plans of becoming a pilot and enrolling in the School of Aviation at San Jose State. Those plans were put on hold based on his work in the family bakery and Dorothea Pastry Shop before his enlistment in the United States Navy in 1942 following the bombing of Pearl Harbor. After training in Cook's School, he was assigned to duty in the Admiralty Islands, where he perfected the art of cooking for groups of up to 5,000. His children and his grandchildren were in awe of his baking skills, which he attributed to his work in the family business, but many times the quantity he cooked were more a reflection of his Navy days. He was discharged from the Navy as a Ship's Cook First Class at the end of World War II and returned to San Jose, where he married Bea on October 3, 1948.

Mark started his civilian career as a Quality Control Supervisor, working for both American Can and National Can until his retirement in January 1984. Mark and Bea raised four children and when the last graduated from high school, they, along with their friends Chuck and Mary Barr, moved from San Jose to Sonora in 1980. After arriving in Sonora, both Bea and Mark made many new friends in the community. Bea, a Registered Nurse, had retired prior to moving to Sonora, but she and Mark continued to be active in the healthcare field, where Mark was one of the "behind the scenes" providers for the Tuolumne County Health Fair. That continued until Bea's declining health prevented her from participating any longer.

Once Bea and Mark moved to Sonora, they both were able to devote more time to their love of golf, their grandchildren, and traveling. Mark had been a member at Phoenix Lake Country Club and more recently at the Twain Harte Golf Club, so the family thought it most appropriate that part of saying goodbye to Mark and celebrating his life would take place on the golf course. Mark transferred his membership in the Elks Club from San Jose to the local chapter in Sonora and became active in SIR's Twain Harte branch, traveling with them on many of their trips. Mark and Bea traveled extensively during their retirement years, including extended stays in Australia and New Zealand, as well as trips to Canada and Italy, and various spots around the United States, many of which may have had casinos associated with those destinations.

Mark was also a member of St. Patrick's Parish in Sonora, where he and Bea soon became very good friends with Father Michael Kelly, the former pastor of St. Patrick's, who will officiate at Mark's service to be held in Santa Clara on April 1, 2005. A Memorial Mass will be offered in his honor on Friday, April 1, 2005, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Claire's Chapel at the Santa Clara Mission Cemetery in Santa Clara, followed by his interment. Another celebration of Mark's life will be held on Sunday, April 10, 2005, at 3 p.m., at the Clubhouse at Twain Harte Golf Course. All of his friends and golfing buddies are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, any donation to the American Cancer Society or Hospice, which was so invaluable during his last days, would be greatly appreciated.