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07/01/2017 - Tracy, EEUU

May 17, 1942 - Jan. 7, 2017 

U.S. Army Retired Major Roger D. Elissagaray passed away unexpectedly, yet peacefully on January 7, 2017 after a brief illness. 

Roger was born in Stockton, California on May 17, 1942 to French Basque immigrants, Dominique and Marie Jeanne Elissagaray. He resided in Tracy most of his life, attending Jefferson Elementary School and graduated from Tracy High School in 1960. 

Commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant through the California Military Academy, Roger proudly served in Vietnam as Company Commander of the Signal Corps. 

He later worked in the Pentagon as an officer in the Cryptic Department serving as a liaison to civilian staff in deciphering intelligence communication. He completed his 27 year Army career as a Major advising Signal Corps reserve units. 

Upon his retirement in 1987, he returned to Tracy to resume his love of farming. 

A strong commitment to his community drove him into real estate land development. Along with his good friend and partner, Dave Olmstead, their efforts resulted in the development of a number of residential communities in Stockton and the surrounding Tracy area. 

In 1993, he married the love of his life Annette Tuso. Together they continued their passion for the Tracy community, overseeing many projects with focused efforts on the St. Bernard's Catholic Church Holy Family Center, and Sutter Tracy Hospital Foundation of which he was a founding member of the Pillar Society.

Roger was elected to the Banta Carbona Irrigation District Board in 1993, serving as Director and Vice-President. For the past 23 years, he enjoyed his relationships with fellow board members and staff at BCID. 

He was also a Founding Board Member of the San Joaquin County Land Alliance, a member of Farm Bureau, Walnut Growers Association, member of the Italian Catholic Federation, and a lifetime parishioner of St. Bernard's Catholic Church. 

He will be greeted in heaven by his parents Dominique and Marie Jeanne, father and mother-in-law Sam and Marie Tuso, sister Monique Etcheverry, brothers-in-law Michel Azpeitia and Bernard Etcheverry and nephew Michel Etcheverry. Along with his loving wife Annette and beloved cat Blackie, he will be dearly missed by his sister, Gilberte Azpeitia of Tracy, brother Bernard (Jean) Elissagaray of Danville, brothers-in-law Chuck (Marilyn) Tuso and Steve (Kandi) Tuso of Tracy; nieces and nephews Elise (Robert) Hermesky of Manteca, Dominique (Patti) Azpeitia of Stockton, Jeannine (Alan) Anchartechahar of Tracy, Bernadette (Dominique) Arrabit of Tracy, Deborah (Greg) Stokes of Placerville, Karen (Roger) Anchartechahar of Redwood City, Anthony and Bianca Tuso of Palo Alto, Stephanie (Andrew) Maltbie of Camino and Brian Tuso of Tracy; great nieces and nephews Renee, Danielle and Nicole Etcheverry, Emily and Marc Anchartechahar, Monique and Jeannette Arrabit, Kevin and Suzanne Azpeitia, Jeff and Lisette Bastian, Brett and Eric Anchartechahar, and Olivia Stokes. 

Along with his family, he will be greatly missed by dearest life-long friends Victor and Ellen Russell and his Goddaughter Tracy Russell of Springfield, Virginia. Roger also leaves behind his much-appreciated, loyal and trusted employee, friend and right-hand man of over 32 years, Hector Esquival, as well as many loving cousins and close friends. 

He enjoyed his early morning coffee group and friends throughout the farming and business community of Tracy. 

The family is most thankful for the excellent care given by Doctor Jagdish Patel and the caring staff of Sutter Tracy Hospital. 

Visitation will be at Fry Memorial Chapel, 550 S. Central Avenue, Tracy, CA on Thursday, January 19, 2017 from 2:00 pm until the time of the Rosary at 7:00 pm. 

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 20, 2017 at 1:00 pm at St. Bernard's Catholic Church, 163 W. Eaton Ave. in Tracy, CA.

Donations may be made to St. Bernard's New Church Building Fund, 163 W. Eaton Ave., Tracy, CA 95376.

(Published on Jan. 16, 2017 in The Record, Legacy.com)