Andrew M. Cecka

"Andy" Cecka passed away Monday, April 15, 2013, at his home. He was born to Mathias and Ludmilla Cecka in the Czech farm community of Lonsdale, Minn. He earned his BS in Mechanical Engineering in 1947 through the Navy's V-12 College Officer Training Program at Montana School of Mines and USC. Andy worked professionally at LA's Department of Water and Power, then branched into aerospace at Aerojet General in Azusa, Calif. He specialized in composite structure design on the Trident missile project, as well as the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo space programs.  He moved to commercial graphite composite applications, including golf club shafts and Prince tennis racquets, in 1968, and ultimately co-founded Composit-Air in Camarillo, Calif., where he focused on composite airplane seating systems. Upon "retirement" in 1990, Andy worked as a consultant and relocated to Arroyo Grande in 2000. He was a proud member of Lambda Chi Alpha, ASAA and SAMPE. Andy married his true love, Rachel Ann, in San Marino, Calif., on July 25, 1953. They raised their family in Covina and Thousand Oaks, Calif. He was a loving Dad to Stephanie, Monica and Walt; Grandpa to Angelie and Isabelle Cecka, and Aaron and Rachael Cook; and mentor to extended family, colleagues and friends. Sadly, Ann predeceased him in 2009. A funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Friday, June 7, 2013, at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 800 Bello in Pismo Beach. Please consider a donation in Andy's name to support education and research for Yellowstone Park, his favorite national treasure, through the Yellowstone Association, www.yellowstoneassociation.org Marshall-Spoo'? 489-5552'? Grover Beach