Joseph Cindrich

1935 - 2025

Joseph Cindrich
09/11/1935 - 10/24/2025
Dr. Joseph Cindrich, 90, of Menlo Park, died peacefully at the Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto on October 24, 2025. He is survived by his dear companion, Alberta (Bear) O'Brien. Joe was predeceased by his wife Karen (2015), his father and mother, Anthony (1954) and Agnes (1958); sisters Katherine Kasmarcak (2011), Anne Chromey (2000), and Mary Alice Lapsevich (2018); and brothers Mike Cindrich (2011), George Cindrich (2018), and Paul Cindrich (2022).
Joe and Karen were married for forty-four years until her death in 2015. Joe had a daughter from a previous marriage, Tanja Marie Hayes, who died in 2016 in Bloomington, Indiana. He is survived by two grandchildren, Santana Hayes and Jance Hunt, both residing in Indiana, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Joe was born in Republic, PA on September 11, 1935. His parents were both immigrants from Yugoslavia (later Croatia) and his father was a coal miner. Joe briefly worked in the mines. However, his passion for football and desire to further his education served to propel him to accomplish many great things during his career. Joe was an outstanding high school football player at Redstone High School and was recognized for his play with many honors, including All-Conference and All-State. After receiving multiple college scholarship offers to play football, Joe attended the University of Pittsburgh and later transferred to the University of Tennessee.
Following the death of his father, Joe joined the United States Marines in 1955 to help support his family and serve his country. Joe played football for the Marines until a knee injury sidelined him. He then served as a football coach and embarkation and supply officer for the Marines on the islands of Japan and Okinawa. Following his military service, Joe completed his BS and MS degrees at Indiana University. Joe started his professional career as a faculty member at Western Illinois University, where he met his wife, Karen. Joe earned a doctorate in Public Health from the University of Maryland in 1975 and later held a faculty position at the San Diego State University before serving in several roles within the federal government in Washington, D.C.
Joe served nine years as Health and Safety Manager at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, where he improved safety standards for the meat, poultry, and grain industries. In 1987, he moved to the San Francisco Bay Area to become Regional Administrator for Region IX at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, leading efforts to enact seatbelt, DUI, and motorcycle helmet laws. Joe testified on key legislation numerous times and earned recognition from national and local leaders. He retired in 1998 after 21 years of service in Federal government.
Joe, a proud Croatian American, co-founded the National Federation of Croatian Americans (NFCA) and served as its President during the 1994 Croatian and Serbian war. Joe also spent over 25 years on the Executive Board of the Croatian Scholarship Fund, helping more than 425 Croatian students earn university degrees. In 1996, President Clinton and Vice President Gore honored Joe at the White House where he was recognized for his work both at the NFCA and with the Croation Scholarship Fund. In 2018, Joe received the NFCA Lifetime Achievement Award in New York City for his support of Croatia by the then President, Mrs. Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic'.
Joe chaired the Palo Alto Elks Lodge Board of Trustees for five years and was integral in developing a strategic plan to build a new facility and allow the Lodge to prosper for future generations. Dedicated to education and health, Joe remained active playing handball into his 80s.
Throughout his life, Joe remained grounded by his humble coal mining roots. Joe always claimed, "I had the advantage of growing up disadvantaged!!"
The Cindrich family extends heartfelt thanks to all staff at the Palo Alta VA Hospital for their care and to all family and friends for the prayers, kindness, and friendship shared during this time. A celebration of life service will be held in Menlo Park in early 2026. Memorial donations may be made to the following: Croatian Scholarship Fund, Box 290, San Ramon, CA 94583; or Capuchin Franciscans, 1345 Cortez Ave, Burlingame, CA 94010.