George Jurasich

November 9, 1931 ~ June 20, 2010
George Jurasich was born on November 9, 1931 to Josephine Lepetich and John Jurasich in Cornwall, PA. They were from Bar in the state of Montenegro (Yugoslavia). He died at San Juan Hospital on June 20, 2010 from a heart attack after a long illness brought on by a car accident on July 13, 2007. His devoted wife was by his side.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Patricia Gonzales Jurasich. He is also survived by his twin sisters, Helen Vukasovich of Sacramento, CA and Violet Radonovich of Globe, AZ, and sister-in-law Claire Jurasich of Mt. Carmel, PA. He had 13 nephews and two nieces.
He is preceded in death by three sisters and three brothers: Danitsa Peyacovich, Mary Walakavage, Anna Vincent, Daniel Jurasich, Chick Jurasich, and Michael Jurasich, all of Pennsylvania.
His father, John Jurasich, was a miner in Cornwall, PA. After his death, George and his mother “Baba”, moved to New York City. George graduated there from Harren High School, with honors. He then attended New York Technical College, where he got a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
During high school, he worked part-time in the heart of the New York entertainment district at a newspaper stand, folding and delivering over 300 newspapers daily, with his mentor Pierre Duke.
When George was 18, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two and a half years, where he achieved the rank of Corporal. Following his stint in Korea, he was discharged and returned to New York City, where he went to college to learn to be an apprentice ironworker.
In 1955, he and his mother moved to Arizona to be near his sisters Mary and Vi. He worked there for a while and then moved to San Diego, CA. At the age of 24 in California, he met the love of his life, Patricia Gonzales, a native of Monticello UT.
They married on June 21, 1957 and moved to Los Angeles, where he went to Northwest College of Engineering and became a professional Electrical Engineer. This gave him wings to work in many countries around the world. After working in Los Angeles, Salt Lake City, and Texas; he worked in Germany, Sweden, Russia, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, and Brazil.
After his marriage, he came to Monticello to meet Patricia’s parents. He stopped on the way into town at eleven-mile hill east in his “‘57 Indian white and coral hardtop Chevy”, and stepped out of the car. He was totally entranced with the view of the Abajo Mountains and decided right then that this is where they would live in retirement. They built their home here in 2000, loved the town, and George worked part-time in the Monticello Visitor Center as an ambassador using the four languages he spoke to help visitors from around the world. All who came to ask for his advice about where to go and what to do easily felt his enthusiasm and affection for the area.
He will be missed by many. Patricia would like to thank the San Juan hospital staff for their attention and kindness to George and her at his death.