Peter Vucurevich

Peter Vucurevich, passed away on August 16, 2022, he was 92 years old.

He is survived by his loving wife of 67 years, Sophie; his sons Ted and Patty Vucurevich of Los Gatos, CA and David and Pam Vucurevich of Franklin, TN; his daughters Sharon Fitzpatrick of Sierra Vista, AZ and Karen and Mike Cripe of Burleson, TX. He also dearly loved 8 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren.

Pete was born in Bisbee, AZ in 1929, the youngest of 9 children, to Yugoslavian immigrant parents that made the family home on Cochise Row in Warren/Bakersville.

He was a natural athlete and excelled in football, basketball, track and baseball. His senior year, Pete was the winning pitcher for the Pumas in the state championship game. Shortly after, Pete signed a professional baseball contract with the New York Yankee organization and spent 3 years at various minor league cities including Ventura, CA, Roanoke, VA and Binghamton, NY before enlisting in the Navy at the time of the Korean War. After basic training, Pete was a star pitcher for the Naval Air Station in San Diego for 4 years playing in the Pacific Coast League. The highlight of the stint was as the winning pitcher of the championship game of the 1953 All Services World Series.

After his Naval commitment ended, Pete returned to Bisbee where he married the love of his life Sophie Blagovich in 1955. The couple was blessed with 4 beautiful children and remained in Bisbee until relocating to Silver City, NM in 1972.

Throughout the years, the family spent time together enjoying the great outdoors, fishing and hunting, in the abundant public lands in AZ and NM. Whether it was football, basketball, baseball, track or cheerleading, Pete and Sophie were always there to support their children. They placed a priority on education and always encourage them to do what they couldn’t, get a college degree.

Pete was an incredibly hard-working man and over the period of his 38-year career with the copper mining company Phelps Dodge Corp, he went from shoveling ore into mine cars 2,600 feet underground to General Mill Forman of the Tyrone, NM mine operations. In 1992, Pete took an early retirement opportunity and restarted his passion for golf. He was a natural golfer and held as low as a 4 handicap in his late 60s.

When Sophie retired in 1997, the two moved to Sierra Vista, AZ where golf was a big part of both of their retirement time. Pete always loved coaching youth baseball and the grand children during golf camp each summer at the local club.

Pete was preceded in death by his brothers Dan, Mike, Bill, Danny and sisters Zorka, Mary, Bessie and Jenny.

Services are pending and will be announced next week. In leu of flowers, you may make a donation in memory of Pete Vucurevich to Valor Hospice Care of Sierra Vista at https://rootsandroads.org/donations/

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