SLIVKA, LUX, TOWERY

Posted by Cathy Gowdy on Thursday, April 30, 2009 at 04:32:16 :

Marin Independent Journal
Tuesday, June 1, 1993
Section B, page 2

JOSEPH PAUL SLIVKA
U.S. Navy officer

Joseph Paul Slivka of Larkspur, a distinguished former U.S. Navy officer and marine engineer, died Friday, Mary 28, 1993, at Kaiser Hospital in San Rafael. He was 74.

Born in McKees Rocks, Penn., Mr. Slivka graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., in 1941. He went on to earn decorations in the Pacific Theater during World War II after surviving numerous battles on both surface ships and submarines.

He met his wife of 50 years, Virginia Gerbic Slivka, at Mare Island Naval Shipyard, where she worked as a Navy nurse and his ship, the U.S.S. Chester pulled in for repairs after being bombed.

In 1943, Mr. Slivka went to New London, Conn., for training in submarines and served as executive officer aboard the U.S.S. Seafox. He left active duty at the end of the war and retired as a Commander in the Naval Reserve after 20 years of service.

He completed degrees in business administration at the University of California at Berkeley in 1948, and t he U.S. War College in Newport, R.I., in 1959 and also pursued graduate studies at Stanford University.

He later founded Deltron Engineering in San Francisco, a marine electrical firm that he managed for 20 years. In 1968, he went to work as an engineer in the Civil Service. When he retired in 1979, he had earned numerous awards for cost-savings ideas used by the military.

In 1979, he opened business as a consultant in marine electrical engineering. His work included designs for gold dredges used throughout the world. He also worked as a consultant for Golden Gate Transit redesigning the electrical system on the Larkspur ferries.

Mr. Slivka enjoyed educational pursuits, including the study of history and world cultures. He also liked to garden, hike and travel.

He was voted into the Sports Hall of Fame at the Naval Academy as a former football player, lacrosse player and rack team member. He will be buried at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., with full military honors.

Besides his wife, he is survived by three sons, Joseph Paul Slivka of Queensland, Australia, John Slivka of Sausalito and Thomas Slivka of Sonoma; three daughters, Mary Slivka of Humboldt, Martha Lux of Los Gatos and Anne Towery of Richmond; seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He is also survived by two brothers, Walter Slivka of Georgia and John Slivka of New York; as well as numerous nephews and nieces.

A memorial service is scheduled for 7 p.m. tomorrow at St. Patrick’s Church in Larkspur. The family prefers memorial contributions to the Larkspur Public Library in lieu of flowers.