Richard Yorac

Richard (Henry) Yorac was born May 11, 1941 in Paco Philippines to Julietta and Paul Yorac. He grew up in Pasay City and was part of a group of friends known as The RO-HI Boys. They were all known to be sharp dressers, excellent dancers, and good at basketball. They remained friends all through life. At the age of 19 he decided to see the world and signed on to a Merchant ship. This adventuresome spirit did not make his Dad's family happy because they wanted him to go to college and follow the Yorac tradition of becoming an attorney, dentist, doctor or work in government. But, the sea was calling him and he followed his heart.

From that time on he traveled the world and visited almost every country around the world. He worked for Norwegian and Swedish shipping lines and made many friends and had a multitude of adventures. He left the sailing life in the early 70's and decided California was home, in particular Long Beach. Long Beach is where he met his wife, Donna in 1972. They became a couple and married in 1976. They have two sons, Derek and James and a daughter, Julien Yorac Rife, and another son, Henry Yorac, Jr. In the ensuing years Richard worked a variety of jobs in manufacturing and he and Donna owned a restaurant, and a clothing store before he decided to return to sailing. He worked on two cruise ships in Hawaii but eventually decide to join the Military Sealift Command, which are the ships that support the Navy fleet. His position was in the engine room and the ships he was assigned on meant that his wife and family never knew exactly where he was. This could be stressful but when he was home it was like vacation time. He was the guy who would go to the park with his boys and the neighborhood kids to play touch football on Saturday afternoons. He was the father that could be very strict with his boys but he loved them fiercely and always wanted the best for them. When his grandchildren were born he was in seventh heaven! He loved his grandsons, Ryan and Adrian, and enjoyed watching them grow up. He was so proud of their achievements even though sometimes he didn't say it out loud. When his granddaughter Alyssa was born, he became the grandpa that would sit and let her put make-up all over his face and just laugh and she would sit and help her Papa do the crossword puzzles everyday when she was at the the house. She was his "Baby Girl" even when she grew up into a beautiful young woman. Life was not always easy for Henry and the family but there was never a lack of love. He loved to cook, have friends over, dance and sing.

We will miss him dearly…

Richard is survived by his wife, Donna, sons, Derek Ray Melulis, James Paul-Henry Yorac, Henry Yorac Jr. and daughter Julien Yorac Rife,( husband Kevin). Four grandchildren, Ryan Nieto Yorac (James), Adrian Melulis Hoover(Derek) and Alyssa Marie Melulis(Derek) and Julius Timothy Yorac (Julien)

In lieu of flowers, please consider planting a tree in honor of Richard " Henry'' Yorac.