John Bernard Sauvajot

John Bernard Sauvajot, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, August 20, 2024. He was 89 years old. John is survived by his wife, Naomi Sauvajot, to whom he was married for 65 years, his three sons, Stefan, Raymond, and Robert, and his four grandchildren.

John lived an extraordinary life. He and his family fled Normandy, France during the World War II D-Day Invasion when he was just ten years old. After a harrowing journey, John’s family traveled by ship to the United States where they resettled in New York City in 1945. His family then moved to Greensboro, North Carolina, where John attended high school. When John’s father passed away unexpectedly, John left the University of North Carolina to serve in the U.S. Navy. While in the Navy, John’s family relocated to San Diego, where they lived ever since. As John was completing his time in the Navy, he began his studies at San Diego State University where he met his future wife, Naomi Pulliam. John and Naomi were married in 1959.

John received Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Public Administration from San Diego State University and enjoyed a long and successful career as a top San Diego County executive, an SDSU university instructor, and a consulting business owner. Throughout his career, he received numerous proclamations, commendations, and accolades from top government leaders in the County of San Diego, the State of California, and elsewhere. He also served on the Board of Directors of the San Diego County Credit Union, where he was Treasurer.

John was an accomplished hobbyist, artist, and avid historian. He loved building model ships and military dioramas which are still displayed throughout his home. He won many awards for these historically accurate renditions. He was also an avid painter, sketcher, and writer, and completed numerous watercolor paintings and drawings, and wrote detailed memoirs of his life’s journey.

John was a devoted husband and father and planned amazing summer vacations that included camping in national parks across the U.S. and Canada, and more distant travels to Europe. Shorter camping trips to the local mountains and deserts were frequent occurrences, usually with close friends and relatives. John enjoyed soccer, coached his son’s teams, and watched games with great interest through his final years. After retirement, he and Naomi traveled extensively in Europe, Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Latin America, and the Caribbean, often by cruise ship which his wife adored. John had personal interests in history and archeology and volunteered at the San Diego Maritime Museum.

John will be greatly missed by the many who knew and loved him. He leaves behind an amazing legacy and a life of incredible accomplishments.