SAPUNAR, MATT
Restaurant
An
experienced caterer, who has helped to make Sacramento more popular with the
ever-coming and ever-going strangers and other visitors, is Matt Sapunar, the
genial proprietor of the Tourist Restaurant at 817 Second Street. He was
born on the Island of Brac, Dalmatia, Croatia and grew up in that country,
attending the well-conducted Dalmatian schools; and when sixteen years of age,
he crossed the wide ocean; rather an undertaking for a lad of his years, and
after inspecting the great American metropolis, he pushed on to the more
promising West, and hailed Sacramento as his own.
Matt
Sapunar worked hard for several years, in order to get a modest start in
business. In 1920, he established with
his present place and took into partnership with him Matt Rakela and Marko
Sapunar, and the trio have been successful, the experienced and observing
public in the capital city not being slow to appreciate their efforts to
furnish a better restaurant service for the traveler than anyone had provided
before.
In
1913, Matt Sapunar was married to Miss Hazel Ellers, of Portland. Mr. Sapunar shares her husbands liking for
athletics, and also for outdoor life and pleasures.
SAPUNOR, JOHN M. Judge
Judge
Sapunor was appointed by Governor Ronald Reagan to the Superior Court in
December 1974. He was re-elected Superior Court Judge two more times by the
citizens of Sacramento County. Judge Sapunor retired in 1988. Judge Sapunor was
elected by his fellow Judges to serve as Presiding Judge for two years, in 1984
and again in 1985.
Judge
Sapunor was born in Sacramento. He obtained his Bachelor's degree from the
University of Santa Clara in 1941. After service during World War II he
obtained his LL.B. degree from the University of Santa Clara Law School in 1948.
He was admitted to the California Bar in 1949.
In
1983 Judge Sapunor was specially honored when he was named "Trial Judge of
the Year" by the California Trial Lawyers Association.
Judge
Sapunor was married twice. His first wife died in 1965. From his first wife he
had three children, two of which died during their respective childhoods, and
one of which also became a Superior Court Judge (see Hon. John Van Dyke
Sapunor.) Judge Sapunor is survived by his wife, Treva, whom he married in 1967
and by his son, John.
SAPUNOR, JOHN V. Judge
Judge
Sapunor was appointed by Governor Deukmajian to the Municiple Court in March
1985. In 1988 Judge Sapunor ran for and was elected to the Superior Court seat
vacated by the retirement of his father
however, he was temporarily appointed to the Superior Court by Governor
Deukmajian to fill his father's seat until he was to commence the term of his
elected office. He was re-elected in 1994.
Judge
Sapunor is the grandson of Thomas Sapunor Sr., who emigrated to the United
States from the island of Brac at the turn of the century. Judge Sapunor
believes his grandfather's family name was Krstulovich,
but changed the name to Sapunor upon entry into this country. First joining the
National Guard, and then working as a milkman, Judge Sapunor's grandfather
eventually became a locomotive engineer with Southem Pacific. Thomas Sapunor
Sr. holds the record for the fastest and slowest times for crossing the Sierra
Nevadas. The fastest time was made when he operated a rescue train to a mine
disaster. The slowest time was made in 1953 when he brought the "City of
San Francisco" across the Sierra Nevadas during a winter snow storm, after
the train had been stalled at Emigrant Gap for three days.
Judge
Sapunor is a native of Sacramento. After graduation from Christian Brothers
High School in 1966, Judge Sapunor attended the University of Santa Clara where
he obtained a Bachelor's degree in 1970. He entered the University of Santa
Clara Law School and obtained his J.D. degree in 1973. He was admitted to the
California Bar in 1973.
Judge
Sapunor resides in Sacramento with his wife, Vicki, who is also an attorney
with the Superior Court in Sacramento. He has one adult child.
SAPUNOR, THOMAS Locomotive Engineer
Thomas
Sapunor Sr., emigrated to the United
States from the island of Brac at the turn of the century. Judge Sapunor
believes his grandfather's family name was Krstulovich,
but changed the name to Sapunor upon entry into this country. First joining the
National Guard, and then working as a milkman, Judge Sapunor's grandfather
eventually became a locomotive engineer with Southem Pacific. Thomas Sapunor
Sr. holds the record for the fastest and slowest times for crossing the Sierra
Nevadas. The fastest time was made when he operated a rescue train to a mine
disaster. The slowest time was made in 1953 when he brought the "City of
San Francisco" across the Sierra Nevadas during a winter snow storm, after
the train had been stalled at Emigrant Gap for three days.
SAPUNAR, NICHOLAS Real Estate-Contractor-Insurance Co.-Finance
Co.
Passed
away on October 11, 2002. Age 83. Husband of Anne C. Sapunar deceased in April
1983; mother of Marilyn K. Christen deceased in March of 2000, Kathleen M.
Marini. of Santa Cruz, father-in-law to John A. Christen and Joel E. Marini;
grandfather of Jenniferand Scot Emigh of Rio Vista, John and Lizanne Christen
of Philadelphia, Anthony and Lora Christen, Paul and Maureen Christen and
Matthew Christen all of San Francisco, Nicholas and Heidi Marini and Gino Marini
of Santa Cruz; beloved son of Walter and Margaret Sapunar and beloved stepson
of Mary Sapunar all deceased: beloved son-in-law of Mike and Katie Vidovich
both deceased; brother-in-law of George Vidovich and Steve and Dolores
Vidovich; loving great grandfather of Will, Elena, Katherine, Luke and Ben
Christen. Survived by many loving nieces, nephews and cousins.
Graduated
from Commerce High in San Francisco In 1936. He worked at the New Process
Laundry as a truck driver in the early 40's while working for his father-in-law
at night at the Acme Grill on 14th and Market. At his wife Anne's urging, he
attended Golden Gate business school in the early 50's where he got his real
estate license. He was partners with Carl Christensen at Christensen /Sapunar
Realty. Opened his own Real, estate office in the Sunset at 30th and Judah and
also on 19th and Taraval. It was known as N.A. Sapunar Realty and at its height
he had over 60 agents working for him. He received the Realtor of the Year
award in 1987. He was also a partner in a construction business, an insurance
company and a finance company. He was one of the last independently owned
realtors In San Francisco, having just recently sold to Coldwell Banker after
suffering a stroke In January of 1997.
He
was loved by many San Franciscans who he
helped set up In their first homes. He was a member of Holy Name Parish; Past
President of the Holy Name Father's Club; the; SMBS (Slavonian Mutual
Benevolent Society) in fact he helped start and build the Slavonic Cultural Center
that now stands on Alemany and Onondaga; Member of the Residential Builders
Assoclation; Past board member of Self Help for the Elderly, where he received
an award in1998; Past board member- of the Recreation Center for the
Handicapped; the Saint Ignatius College Prep Board of Regents.
He
was always willing to donate to a cause to help someone else. He was active
with donations to Catholic Charities, Little Sisters of the Poor, the St.
Vincent De Paul Society, Little Children's Aide and many more. He received an
award for his charitable contributions from Little Children's Aide in the 90's.
He also sponsored many youth related activities throughout SF including the PAL
baseball teams in the Di-Maggio League.
He also sponsored many activities for his grandchildren in both SanFrancisico
and Santa Cruz. He was a member of the Olympic Club where he had a standing
foursome every Saturday until his stroke. He loved to play golf and received 2
holes in one durinq his lifetime.
His
family was first and foremost to him and he loved his six grandsons and one
granddaughter Immensely. He was also a proud great grandfather to five. He is
also survived by his many loving careworkers and therapists who helped him
through the past 6 years: Magdalena, Susan, Omar, Julietta, Julie. Sue, Lizanne
and Marcella. He had a great passion for life and loved traveling and visiting
many places. He especially enloyed his last trips to Las Vegas where he would
treat everyone to shows and dinner and fun. SF Chronicle October 13, 2002
SAPUNAR, A 1877 Waiter San Francisco Brac Dir
SAPUNAR, ANN C. 1982 Society San Francisco Brac Sls
SAPUNAR, ANTON 1911 Resident Sacramento Brac Jut
SAPUNAR, GEORGE 1991 Railroad Sacramento Brac Sls
SAPUNAR, HAZEL 1913 Wife Sacramento Oregon Red
SAPUNAR, JERRY 1994 Chef Sacramento Brac Sls
SAPUNAR, JOHN 1885 Waiter San Francisco Brac Dir
SAPUNAR, JOHN 1880 Goldminer Amador Brac Vot
SAPUNAR, MANDINA 1911 Society Sacramento Brac Cfu
SAPUNAR, MARCO 1920 Restaurant Sacramento Brac Red
SAPUNAR, MARE 1911 Resident Sacramento Brac Jut
SAPUNAR, MARGARET 1930 Society Sacramento Brac Cfu
SAPUNAR, MARKO 1911 Resident Sacramento Brac Jut
SAPUNAR, MATT 1913 Husband Sacramento Brac Red
SAPUNAR, MATT 1920 Restaurant Sacramento Brac Red
SAPUNAR, NICHOLAS 1995 Real
Estate San Francisco Brac Dir
SAPUNAR, NICHOLAS 1976 Society San Francisco Brac Sls
SAPUNAR, PAUL 1911 Resident Sacramento Brac Jut
SAPUNAR, SAMUEL 1910 Wood Coal San Francisco Brac Dir
SAPUNAR, SAMUEL 1912 Restaurant San Francisco Brac Dir
SAPUNAR, STEPHAN 1911 Society Sacramento Brac Cfu
SAPUNAR, TOM 1911 Resident Sacramento Brac Jut
SAPUNAR, WALTER 1920 Restaurant Sacramento Brac Dir
SAPUNOR, GEORGE 1985 Judge Sacramento Brac Ccc
SAPUNOR, JACK 1989 Judge Sacramento Brac Ccc
SAPUNOR, JOHN 1989 Judge Sacramento Brac Ccc
SAPUNOR, MRS 1919 Wife Sacramento Brac Bio
SAPUNOR, PETER 1992 Attorney Sacramento Brac Ccc
SAPUNOR, PHIL 1995 Doctor Walnut Creek Brac Dir
SAPUNOR, THOMAS 1919 Husband Sacramento Brac Bio
Adam S Eterovich
Amerikonac-Bracanin
croatians@aol.com
www.croatians.com
SF Chronicle (October 13, 2002). Nicholas A. Sapunar Obituary. San Francisco Chronicle. San Francisco.
Very successful and generous businesman, people from the Island of Brac, Croatia.
Reed, G. W. (1923). John Jurach, George Lucich, Marco Lucich, N.N. Matcovich, Mat Sapunar, Thomas Rudech. History of Sacramento County, Historical Rec. Co.
Biography Sacramento.
The
Sapunor articles came out of a Croatian Extravaganza booklet.