Cristoforo Perovich

Cristoforo, better known as Cris or Kito to those who knew him, was born in Zadar, Croatia on the family farm. He was born on March 27, 1931 to Joakim and Simica Perovic. He is survived in California by his wife Nives, his two daughters Veris Perovich and Enea Ostrich, son Dario Perovich, son-in-law Stephen Sr Ostrich and grandchildren Stephen Jr and Cristine Ostrich. He also has family in British Columbia, Canada - his sister Ana Caleta, nephews Tony (and family) and Denis Caleta, sister-in-law Bruna Perovic, nephew Ross Perovic (and family) and niece Sandra Uzelac (and family). Lastly, there are more relatives in Canada, the U.S. and Europe.

His love of nature began at the family farm in Zadar and the Adriatic sea below it. He loved fishing, swimming, hunting, and working around the home and garden. One talent many may not know was he was a tenor in a touring choir.

Cris left Yugoslavia (now Croatia) ahead of his family to get a foothold for a better life in Italy and sought asylum in an immigration camp. He was approved within two weeks and then sent for his wife Nives who was pregnant and their three year old daughter Veris to join him. The young family spent nearly a year in the immigration camp during which time Enea was born in Latina, Italy.

They chose to immigrate to Vancouver, B.C. Canada as it was only a one year wait while friends at the camp opted to wait the two years to immigrate to the San Pedro, California. Immigration found him a job as a machinist in Richmond, B.C. He also did odd jobs as a carpenter and handyman around Vancouver.

Once settled in a home, he contacted his recently widowed sister Ana and brother Pero and his family who had immigrated to Australia to immigrate once more to Vancouver, B.C. Canada. He was content with his backyard garden and also loved making wine every year. He would make the red wine while his brother would make the white wine. They would get together making sausages for the family because backyard barbeques were a staple at family gatherings.

In 1976, he and his family decided to take a trip down to San Pedro California to visit their friends from the immigration camp. Once they saw the sun and ocean the whole family fell in love with the area. They began the moving process during their vacation and over the following months completed the move in 1977. Enjoying the sun and surf Cris and Nives's love for one another was reinvigorated and in 1979 their son was born. To keep the tradition of unique names Veris and Enea put their heads together and came up with the first name Dario and it was then that Cris insisted on the name to be Tonći, which ended up as his middle name.

He loved watching films, especially Westerns with action stars like Clint Eastwood and John Wayne. He always loved the way the good guys won and the bad guys faltered in the end. He also loved dancing with his wife Nives in the past…they would glide across the dance floor at plenty of Croatian banquets and barbeques in Vancouver as well as in California.

He and his wife continued to enjoy their summer vacations at the cabin each year in Birch Bay, Washington until his health began failing. His love of outdoors brought him peace and he will forever be remembered as a strong and loving husband and father and grandfather---a man whose zest for life will live on forever and ever with hugs from heaven.



Funeral Home:
Green Hills Mortuary and Memorial Chapel
27501 S.Western Ave.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
US 90275