Raymond Bozek of Poway, passed away Sunday, December 28, 2008, at age 70, after a year long battle with lung cancer. Born in Argo, Illinois, Ray had obtained many accomplishments. He had a career in pharmacy and management with Osco and Sav-on Drug stores. It was only after his retirement that he was able to enjoy his love for golf and worked in the pro shop at Mt. Woodson golf course in Ramona, California. He achieved golf's ultimate accomplishment by scoring two holes-in-one within the past seven years. Raymond is survived by his wife of 45 years, Madelon Bozek. Ray and Madelon had three daughters and sons-in-law and seven grandchildren.
If you wish to contribute to a memorial, the family has requested a donation to a fund for Taylor VonDerhaar, his grandson with special needs. Make out the check to the ”Ray Bozek Memorial Fund for Taylor VonDerhaar” and send to:
Madelon Bozek
14649 Silverset Street
Poway, CA 92064
Notes on Ray’s career at Osco and Sav-on. Our thanks to John Terry and Mike Koestler for providing these details.
Ray was originally a Pharmacist and then went into the company's store management program. He became a manager and opened some of our highest volume stores - #55 in Schaumburg, Illinois and the Brickyard store in Chicago. In September of 1983, Ray received one of the first annual Chicagoland Excellence Awards. In 1984, he went to the Fresno, California market as manager of one of the first Sav-on Super stores which were essentially the Chicago combination store concept. He was the General Manager of one of those stores when American Stores Company acquired Jewel Food Companies, Inc. and decided to integrate the stores in the Central Valley into the Lucky Food Store chain in 1985. At that time Ray decided to move to San Diego, California with Sav-on. He was a General Manager and Market Manager in a number of the San Diego area stores until his retirement in the early 2000’s.
John Terry commented, “Ray should be remembered as a fun loving highly promotional manager who generated great sales and enthusiasm in those around him.”