Editor's Note: The following obituary was submitted to Patch by another Serra High School alumnus, who wished to remain anonymous. To submit an article for publication, please e-mail laura.dudnick@patch.com.
It is with great sadness that we must announce the passing of Stan (Buck) Vistica (Serra High School class of 1971) on Sunday, Sept. 30. This was after more than two and a half years dealing with brain cancer.
First we include a statement from the family (his wife Lisa, and daughters, Madeleine and Camille).
"Yesterday afternoon, just before dusk, Stan passed away. Madeleine, Camille, myself, and his sister Mary were with him as he left us, peacefully and with grace. He was surrounded by love, reflecting the love he extended to us all of his life, and in an especially poignant fashion during these last months. In a situation that was challenging to say the least, Stan looked to his relationship with God as a source of strength, with love and support of his friends and family as well as his own extraordinary innate inner resources. Thank-you for being a part of what helped him live as fully as possible until the end."
Services for Stan will take place this week.
Thursday October 4th, visitation and Rosary from 6:00-8:00pm
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
1301 Bayswater Avenue, Burlingame
Friday October 5th, funeral services 1:30 pm
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church
1301 Bayswater Avenue, Burlingame
Burial to directly follow church services (all are welcome)
St. John's Cemetery
910 Oregon Avenue, San Mateo
Reception to directly follow burial
Benjamin Franklin Hotel
44 East Third Ave, San Mateo
In lieu of flowers, we are asking you to consider donations to either:
The UCSF BTRC c/o Nicholas Butowski MD
UCSF Neurological Surgery
Division of Neuro-Oncology
400 Parnassus AVe 0372
San Francisco, CA 94143Checks payable to "UC Regents" memo: BTRC,
or
The Mercy Center/Cancer Prayer Group
Mercy Center
2300 Adeline Drive
Burlingame, CA 94010
Checks payable to "Mercy Center" memo: In memory of Stanley Vistica, Cancer Prayer Group
Comments from a classmate:
While the late ‘60’s and early ‘70’s were certainly a different set of times for Serra, certain truths hold out. Family first, friends right up there, and get your head on right. Buck certainly had family, Don Jr (class of ‘68), Greg (Buzz) (class of ‘72), and certainly not to be forgotten, their father, Don Sr (Big V)., who ran the cafeteria kitchen for the last several years of our tenure.
As one who knew Buck (Stan) for 46 years, his truth to friends, whether they were going up or down in life, was one of his outstanding qualities. He never cared nor touted who was doing better, he wanted the best for himself and everybody else.
It was not until his mid 20’s that he really got his head on right. He decided he wanted to be an architect. And did he ever. Doing all the schooling in his late 20’s, then working internationally and then finally settling down back on the peninsula. On to the corporate world where he worked on many of the best bio tech and associated facilities around.
He also became a member of the Burlingame Planning Commission, rising to President, until he had to take leave because of his illness. Just last fall he received an accommodation for his years of service and innovative efforts for the City.
He did all this while meeting and getting married to Lisa, and raising two great daughters that are great successes in their own right.
He was not perfect, but he gave it a certainly outstanding effort. As it is when anyone passes, he will be missed by all that knew him.
