Albert Joseph Ursic Jr. (aka A. J.} 75 a resident of Minden, NV died March 22, 2024, in Carson City, NV. A. J. was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer in December 2023.
A.J. was born October 1, 1948, in Los Angeles, Ca to Albert and Julie Ursic. In his early years A. J. lived in Hawthorne, Ca until his father's work required the family to move to Ipswich England and then to Ankara Turkey. While in Turkey A.J. obtained his Eagle Scout ranking in the Boy Scouts of America organization. A.J. showed leadership qualities early in his life. Upon returning to California in 1962 his family settled in Cypress Ca. where he was a student of the first graduating class of John F. Kennedy High School in Lapalma. Ca. Continuing his education at California State University, Long Beach, Long Beach Ca. He earned a B.S. degree in biology. A.J. eventually specialized as an Environmental Assessor, CAI EPA and started his private Environmental Consulting practice. His expertise afforded him to become a guest speaker at various events including seminars, company presentations and educational institutions.
He enjoyed being active and as a youth played baseball and football in high school and took up skydiving, scuba diving and obtained his pilot license as a young adult. His passion for aviation led him to pursue a commercial pilots license as well as a flight instructor. He is responsible for 75 pilots at last count and on a part time basis, he worked full time for Alcoa Industries. Besides the afore mentioned hobbies, he was also restoring two 1940 Stearman Army Corp primary trainers and flying his 114 Rockwell twin-engine plane, which he and his wife Charli flew across country from its previous home in Wisconsin to a new home in CA the later to NV.
Another avid hobby was attending Reno Air Races. He was a "boxer" there for 54 continuous years always wearing his airplane hat and goggles for the young ones attending the airshow. The last program featured an article describing his years attending the air races. A.J. was an accomplished musician, playing multiple instruments, was a composer/lyricist member of American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). The summer of his graduating year prior to college he was a member of a touring band traveling and performing in CA and the midwestern states many times being questioned on what life was like in CA.
After retiring and moving to NV, AJ was active in community affairs and organizations. He was a frequent attendee at BOCC meetings speaking up whenever he felt strongly of an issue, most recently the painted rock issue. He had decided to run for district 5 county commissioner as recently as one week before his last hospitalization. He was a member of the airport advisory board, a board member of his local HOA, member of The Douglas County Republican Central Committee, Associate member of DCRW, and a member of the Big Brother Association.
He is survived by his wife Charlotte {Charli} Ursic, three stepchildren Kevin of Castle Rock, CO, Angela of Corona CA, and Kellie of Victoria TX, his sister Judy Ursic of Wenatchee WA, his three nephews Oscar (Solo}, Kerby and Michael. He was preceded by his parents, an infant brother, two stepchildren, his paternal and maternal grandparents and several aunts and uncles. His laughter and passion for projects will be missed.