John Livacich dedicated his life to farming
John Livacich dedicated his life to farming
John Livacich of Rialto, CA, died May 1 in Placentia (CA) Linda Hospital, leaving behind a trail of friendships in fresh produce he cultivated over his 50-plus years in the industry. He was 76.
Mr. Livacich spent his life pursuing his passion for farming, and his ventures made his company one of the larger farming operations in the United States. He was past president, officer or partner of various California-based organizations, including Grand Central Produce in San Bernardino; Vista Sales in Vista; C&R Farms in Hemet; All Fresh Produce in Los Angeles; Rancho Packaging in El Centro; D&D Farms in Holtville, Brawley Co-op Cooling and Saikhon Farms in Brawley; and High Low Nurseries in Susanville. He also was chief executive officer of J.A. Wood Co. in Phoenix.
Mr. Livacich was a grower-shipper-broker whose farming ventures were mainly in strawberries, lettuce, watermelons, cantaloupes and tomatoes in California, Arizona, Texas and Mexico. He was a member of the Western Growers Association, National Watermelon Association, National Potato Board and the California Strawberry Advisory Board. He was a founder and board member of the Bank of San Bernardino and a life member of San Bernardino Elks Lodge No. 836.
Joe Anticevich, his cousin and general manager of Riverside, CA-based John Livacich Produce Inc., said that Mr. Livacich "was a generous guy, always looking to help people."
Mr. Livacich "enjoyed making deals and he enjoyed making people happy," Mr. Anticevich said, adding that his passion was "walking the fields."
Before he got out of strawberries, Mr. Livacich "used to be one of the largest strawberry growers in the state in the 1980s," growing from San Diego to Watsonville, Mr. Anticevich said. From a growing standpoint, Mr. Livacich primarily was in watermelons and cantaloupes in his final years.
Dick Gladden, retired from the former supermarket chain Alpha Beta Co., recalled Mr. Livacich as a "wonderful and generous man" and a "bright guy in the produce world." Mr. Gladden met Mr. Livacich while working as produce merchandiser for Alpha Beta in 1960. Even though Mr. Gladden was promoted out of produce merchandising for Alpha Beta in 1973, his friendship with Mr. Livacich carried on to the end, he said.
Robert Andrews, owner of Bakersfield, CA-based Robert S. Andrews -- a grower-packer-shipper of melons -- had a friendship with Mr. Livacich that spanned "more than 50 years," he said. He described Mr. Livacich as "unselfish and energetic" with a "rare talent for the pulse of the market."
"His word was his bond," Mr. Andrews said of Mr. Livacich.
Mr. Livacich graduated from St. Bernardine's High School in San Bernardino in 1948 and from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1953.
Among Mr. Livacich's survivors are two daughters, Cathy Catsouras of Laguna Niguel, CA, and Lori Ann Livacich of Los Angeles; two granddaughters, Anastasia Catsouras and Lindsey Livacich Nigorizawa; one brother, Frank Livacich of Riverside, CA; and a nephew, John A. Livacich of Loma Linda, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to City of Hope, Central Processing, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, or at www.cityofhope.com.
Mr. Livacich spent his life pursuing his passion for farming, and his ventures made his company one of the larger farming operations in the United States. He was past president, officer or partner of various California-based organizations, including Grand Central Produce in San Bernardino; Vista Sales in Vista; C&R Farms in Hemet; All Fresh Produce in Los Angeles; Rancho Packaging in El Centro; D&D Farms in Holtville, Brawley Co-op Cooling and Saikhon Farms in Brawley; and High Low Nurseries in Susanville. He also was chief executive officer of J.A. Wood Co. in Phoenix.
Mr. Livacich was a grower-shipper-broker whose farming ventures were mainly in strawberries, lettuce, watermelons, cantaloupes and tomatoes in California, Arizona, Texas and Mexico. He was a member of the Western Growers Association, National Watermelon Association, National Potato Board and the California Strawberry Advisory Board. He was a founder and board member of the Bank of San Bernardino and a life member of San Bernardino Elks Lodge No. 836.
Joe Anticevich, his cousin and general manager of Riverside, CA-based John Livacich Produce Inc., said that Mr. Livacich "was a generous guy, always looking to help people."
Mr. Livacich "enjoyed making deals and he enjoyed making people happy," Mr. Anticevich said, adding that his passion was "walking the fields."
Before he got out of strawberries, Mr. Livacich "used to be one of the largest strawberry growers in the state in the 1980s," growing from San Diego to Watsonville, Mr. Anticevich said. From a growing standpoint, Mr. Livacich primarily was in watermelons and cantaloupes in his final years.
Dick Gladden, retired from the former supermarket chain Alpha Beta Co., recalled Mr. Livacich as a "wonderful and generous man" and a "bright guy in the produce world." Mr. Gladden met Mr. Livacich while working as produce merchandiser for Alpha Beta in 1960. Even though Mr. Gladden was promoted out of produce merchandising for Alpha Beta in 1973, his friendship with Mr. Livacich carried on to the end, he said.
Robert Andrews, owner of Bakersfield, CA-based Robert S. Andrews -- a grower-packer-shipper of melons -- had a friendship with Mr. Livacich that spanned "more than 50 years," he said. He described Mr. Livacich as "unselfish and energetic" with a "rare talent for the pulse of the market."
"His word was his bond," Mr. Andrews said of Mr. Livacich.
Mr. Livacich graduated from St. Bernardine's High School in San Bernardino in 1948 and from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1953.
Among Mr. Livacich's survivors are two daughters, Cathy Catsouras of Laguna Niguel, CA, and Lori Ann Livacich of Los Angeles; two granddaughters, Anastasia Catsouras and Lindsey Livacich Nigorizawa; one brother, Frank Livacich of Riverside, CA; and a nephew, John A. Livacich of Loma Linda, CA.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to City of Hope, Central Processing, 1500 E. Duarte Rd., Duarte, CA 91010, or at www.cityofhope.com.
