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Andrew "Andy" Mekis

(March 4, 1920 - August 20, 2011, Age 91)

Andy Mekis, joined the Knights of Columbus on July 1, 1944 at the age of 23 and was a 3rd Degree Honorary Life Member of the Order when he passed away at the age of 91. Andy was well-known in the community for his auto supply business that he founded in downtown Santa Cruz in 1949. Up until recent years, Andy was often seen at our monthly socials.

Published Obituary from August 24, 2011 (Santa Cruz Sentinel)

Characterized as a loving father, bright and caring businessman, and devoted husband, Andrew Mekis was known for being one of the few businesses in the 1950s and 60s to allow patrons to open a charge account, allowing young people a chance to accrue credit.
Mekis, died Saturday at the age of 91.
Mekis owned of Andy's Auto Supply on Pacific Avenue. His son Michael Mekis now manages the store and worked alongside his father for years.
“I worked shoulder to shoulder with my father and I had a wonderful experience,” Michael Mekis said. “He was a hard worker, very sharp, but once he walked out the door at six every night, he was focused on my mom and us.”
He developed loyalty and trust within the community. Mekis' children say they still encounter men and women well acquainted with his business and his warm personality.
“Any man from this area knew Andy's Auto Supply,” said his daughter Lisa Mekis. “[My father] was just a really disciplined, hard worker, but he loved to have fun.”
Lisa Mekis said her father would often work more than eight hours a day, six days a week and then spend Saturdays with his family and parents in Watsonville. In the evenings he would take their mother, Audrey, dancing. Lisa Mekis said her parents “saw the world and danced,” spending much of their time together exploring different countries and continents while maintaining a love for dance and for each other.
The son of immigrants from Croatia, Mekis spent his childhood in Watsonville, thriving in the booming Croatian community. Rooted in his background, Kathryn Miller, said her father's story was the “quintessential” story of first-generation immigrants.
“He set high expectations for himself,” Miller said. “He expected to change the world for himself and for his family.”
Mekis moved to Santa Cruz in his adulthood to open up his business after marrying his wife of 63 years, Audrey, but he remained tied to Watsonville. His family said that throughout his life, Mekis loved both cities and was disappointed that there was not a better connection between them.
“When you don't have good links between cities, one of them will wither,” said Jim Mekis, son of Andrew Mekis. Jim Mekis said that it was a desire to see both Santa Cruz and Watsonville thrive that drove his father to support the widening of Highway 1. Mekis had lived in the area before the highway existed and all that connected Santa Cruz and Watsonville was Freedom Boulevard.
Before his death, Mekis requested that rather than mourners sending the family flowers, they show their support by writing the Regional Transportation Commission at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz or www.sccrtc.org in support of “immediately” widening Highway 1.
“There are very few people in this county who understood both Santa Cruz and Watsonville, and them both [like my father],” Lisa Mekis said.
 
Andrew Mekis
BORN: March 4, 1920
DIED: Aug. 20, 2011
HOME: Santa Cruz
OCCUPATION: Businessman, owner of Andy's Auto Supply
EDUCATION: Graduate of Watsonville High School, class of 1938
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Elks, Knights of Columbus, Forty Thieves, Native Sons and Slavic American Cultural Organization; Santa Cruz Parking Commission; named the “Old Timer of the Year” in 2010 by the Santa Cruz Old Timers organization.
SURVIVORS: He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Audrey Mekis; sister Helen Ostoja of Hollister; six children, Jim Mekis, Kathryn Miller, Michael Mekis, Donna Mekis, Paul Mekis and Lisa Mekis; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
SERVICES: A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11 a.m. Aug. 29 at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St. in Santa Cruz. A reception will follow. Visitation will be 6 to 8 p.m. Aug. 28 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St.



Published Obituary from August 24, 2011 (Watsonville Register-Pajaronian)


Andrew (Andy) Mekis passed away peacefully, at the age of 91, with his wife Audrey at his side on August 20, 2011.

Andrew was born in Watsonville on March 4, 1920, the oldest of three children born to Marko and Kate Mekis, both of whom had immigrated to Watsonville from Konavle, Croatia in the early 1900s. Andy was born at home on the corner of Ford and Rodriguez Streets, and grew up in the center of Watsonville’s thriving Croatian colony. Croatian was his first language, as he spent his childhood cutting apricots, building apple boxes and helping his parents in the apple packing business. Andy learned English quickly at school, and taught his parents the language at home in the evenings. He maintained his fluency in both languages throughout his life.

Andy was a 6’2” basketball star through Watsonville High School, graduated in 1938, and continued to play in city leagues for more than a decade. He was a member of the Santa Cruz team chosen to play against the touring Harlem Globetrotters. During high school, he was first exposed to the auto parts business while working for Levin’s Auto Supply on Main Street, and after graduating, he was hired as a switchman for the Southern Pacific railroad.

Andy met his beautiful wife Audrey (a nurse from Missouri who was working at Watsonville Hospital), while dancing at Deer Park Tavern. They were married at Valley Catholic Church in Watsonville in 1948. Andy’s friend Henry Mello played the piano with his band at their reception. Andy and Audrey just celebrated their 63rd anniversary.

Shortly after getting married, Andy decided to risk opening his own business, and in June 1949 Andy’s Auto Supply opened at 819 Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz (now the location of Zachary’s restaurant). As Andy’s Auto Supply grew, so did the Mekis family, with Andy and Audrey raising their six children in Santa Cruz.

Andy was well known for his outgoing personality, and his automotive assistance. For many young men in Santa Cruz in the 1950s and 60s, Andy’s Auto was the first business to allow them to open a charge account, thus helping them to establish credit (and credibility) in those days before credit cards. One of the things Andy was also known for was bartering – he was always willing to exchange a car part for a box of artichokes or a roof repair. And if he didn’t have the part you needed in stock, he could get it for you overnight (this was long before FEDEX). Andy's Auto continues as a thriving Mekis family business at 901 Pacific Avenue today.

Throughout the years, Andy was a member of Elks, Forty Thieves, Native Sons, and Knights of Columbus. He also served as a member of the Santa Cruz Parking Commission. In 2010, Andy was voted "Old Timer of the Year" by the Santa Cruz Old Timers organization.

One of the things Andy was most passionate about was seeing the world, and he and Audrey traveled extensively throughout their lives. Beginning in the 1960s and continuing through the ‘90s, they traveled independently throughout Europe, China, Japan, Africa, Mexico, the Middle East, and of course North America. In addition they made at least ten trips to visit his family in Croatia – once, in 1998 with his entire family in tow.

Andy took enormous pride in his children, following every detail of all of their lives right up to the end. He loved achievement, particularly against-the-odds achievement. He also continued to be interested in what was happening in both Watsonville and Santa Cruz, following local news, especially business news, on a daily basis. He took pride in understanding local business and political issues, and knowing who the players were. Even if you didn't know Andy, he probably knew you.

Andrew was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Nick Mekis, and his son-in-law, Morton Marcus.

He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Audrey Mekis; his sister Helen Ostoja of Hollister; his six children, Jim Mekis (Sara Cordell), Kathryn Miller (Marshall), Michael Mekis (Paula), Donna Mekis, Paul Mekis and Lisa Mekis; his nine grandchildren, Ann Mekis (Justin Beachler), Damian Miller (Yesenia Gutierrez), Marcella Moran (T.J.), Philip Mekis, Daniel Mekis, Katie Mekis, Nicholas Galli (Jennifer Yee), Dominique Mekis and Dalton Mekis; and his three great-grand children, Jacqueline, Josie and Cash Moran.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Holy Cross Church, 126 High St. in Santa Cruz, Monday, August 29, 2011 at 11am. A reception will follow. A visitation has been scheduled for Sunday evening, August 28, 2011 at Benito and Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel, 1050 Cayuga St. in Santa Cruz from 6pm to 8pm.

In lieu of flowers, please write to the Regional Transportation Commission at 1523 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, CA  95060 http://sccrtc.org/ to support the immediate widening of Hwy 1. Andy believed strongly that a better connection between Watsonville and Santa Cruz would significantly benefit both the communities he so loved. Please visit www.pacificgardenschapel.com to light a candle for Andy and share any condolences with his family.


Knights of Columbus, Council 971 :: P.O. Box 971, Santa Cruz, CA 95061 :: knights@kofc971.org