Jan Ruzicka
It is with a heavy and sad heart that I write the following: My husband of 51 years passed on July 17, in the John Muir Walnut Creek Hospital, after a long and difficult illness. Born Nov. 20, 1943 in Czechoslovakia, he immigrated to Canada in 1968 and to the United States in 1974. He finally settled in the Bay Area, first in Oakland and then in El Sobrante.
Jan was a mechanical engineer by profession in the oil business. He received a mechanical BA Degree in Czechoslovakia and business BA and Master’s degrees from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
His profession took him to many countries, too numerous to mention. He was a guitar player for 60 years, joining WhatsUp big band in Hayward, Senior Serenaders in El Sobrante and the East Bay Banjo Club presently in Concord, playing for various retirement homes and festivals. He represented the Orinda/Tabor Sister City Foundation, during the annual historical festival, called Tabor Meetings in the Czech Republic.
He is survived by his wife, sisters Eva Kaplan in Lexington, KY, Miroslava Pickova in the Czech Republic and nephew Jaroslav Picka.
Contributed by Bohuslava (Slavka) Ruzicka.
