He dies following 39 years working in the San Benito ag
department
Paul Matulich, the agriculture commissioner whose career working
with county ranchers and farmers spanned four decades, has died. He
was 66 years old.
He dies following 39 years working in the San Benito ag department
Paul Matulich, the agriculture commissioner whose career working with county ranchers and farmers spanned four decades, has died. He was 66 years old.
Matulich took over as the San Benito County agriculture commissioner in April 2004 and before that had spent 39 years working in the office. Matulich passed away Monday morning at Good Samaritan Hospital in San Jose.
He was born in Hollister, a fifth-generation county resident. He was the son of the late Helen Frusetta Matulich and Anthony Matulich. He graduated from San Benito High School in 1961 before attending Gavilan College and serving in the California National Guard for six years after that.
Matulich took a natural interest in agriculture early on because his family owned an orchard on the west side of Hollister near the location of the old slaughterhouse, noted Mark Tognazzini, whom Matulich succeeded as agriculture commissioner five years ago.
Tognazzini, who said he grew up with Matulich, first hired him to work for the county office in 1965. Tognazzini called him a “good guy and a dedicated guy.”
“He cared about agriculture and the farmers and the county,” Tognazzini said. “You couldn’t ask for a better person. It’s a great loss.”
County Administrative Officer Susan Thompson echoed that thought and said Matulich’s passing will be “a huge loss for all of us.”
“He embodied the personality of this community,” she said. “He’s a great friend for all of us and we’re going to miss him. Our hearts go out to his family.”
Board of Supervisors Chairman Anthony Botelho, who owns an apple orchard in San Juan Bautista, said Matulich’s death is “still a shock.”
“It’s a really big loss to the county and the agricultural industry in San Benito County,” he said. “He’s irreplaceable. He always tried to make things work. He tried to always look out for the interests of the growers.”
Botelho said Matulichhas “always been fair and accommodating to anyone who has the benefit to work with him.”
“He was really one of us,” said Botelho.
Tognazzini noted how many regulatory officers in similar positions have an enforcement mentality.
“His personality really wasn’t that way,” he said. “He did a good job.”
After his initial appointment in 2004, Matulich had this to say: “It’s great to know the board of supervisors holds a lot of trust in me, and it will be nice after all these years to finish up my career in the top position.”
As for finding a successor, Thompson said the “board is going to have to make a decision.” Matulich had two assistant directors, who may be considered in replacing him.
“We’re going to try and deal with his death in the best way we can,” she said.
Aside from his parents, he was preceded in death by a nephew, Robert McKibbin. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Lin Matulich; his daughters, Leeann and Libby Matulich; and grandchildren, Anthony and Haley Matulich, all of Hollister.
Visitation will be today from noon to 8 p.m. at the Grunnagle-Ament-Nelson Funeral Home. Family and friends may gather at the St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1200 Fairview Road, on Saturday for a funeral Mass commencing at 10 a.m. Arrangements for cremation after the services are planned.
A pot-luck reception will follow the services at the Immaculate Conception Church Hall in Tres Pinos. Contributions are preferred to the St. Benedict Church.
