With heavy hearts Dulcich & Sons has announced that its founder Jakov Prosper Dulcich passed away on April 11, 2018 at the age of 85. Jakov was born April 10th, 1933 in Pergamino, Argentina. Jakov’s parents moved back to Croatia in 1940 and immigrated to the US in 1960.
Born of his parents Peter and Rosa Dulcich, he grew up learning to fish with his father and served in the military in his country but, yearned for a different path. In 1959 he married his wife Antoinette and emigrated first to Chile, then to the United States in July of 1960. Jakov worked for his Uncle Prosper Dulcich who lived in the Central Valley and learned to farm and grow table grapes. He found his dream and began working and saving to invest in his own land, building a future planting and growing his own vineyards. While working to build his business, he and his wife worked on building their family and had three children, Rosie, Peter, and Nick. Jakov lost his beloved first wife in 1989. Through Jakov’s hard work, determination, skill and talent, the company grew from 80 acres to thousands of acres today.
Together with his sons Peter and Nick, they formed Jakov P. Dulcich and sons. In 1994, Jakov remarried Tonka (Kennedy) Dulcich, he lived with her until his last day. Jakov is survived by his wife Tonka Dulcich, his daughter Rosie Dulcich, her children Jeffrey, Vanessa, and Eric and great grandchildren Serenity and Jakov. His son Peter and his wife Simona and their children Antoinette, Francesca and Louisa Dulcich. His son Nick and his wife Anna and their children Anthony, Maria and Katherine Dulcich. His surviving relatives in Croatia, brother Stjepan Dulcich, sisters, Mariona Mihovilcevic, Anita Hraste, with their children and many other relatives.