"As a young girl of 13 I worked for Nick in the grape fields of WhiteWing Ranch. He thought it would be great fun to tell me that the way to check for ripeness was to taste one of every bunch i picked. Yep! Made me sick! It did take a few days, plus the hot sun didn't help. He was always great fun to be around! Ethel Marie Silcock nee: Edge."
In loving memory of
Nicholas W. Kondora
Kondora, Jr., Nicholas W. 75 of Phoenix, AZ, passed away on December 4, 2009. Born in Cleveland, OH, he and his family moved to AZ in 1947. He attended the University of Arizona on a full football scholarship, playing on the varsity team for four years. He pledged the Sigma Chi Fraternity and graduated in 1955. Nick went on to become a prominent grower of citrus and table grapes in AZ. He worked 25 years in Dateland, AZ as general manager, then owner of the 2,500 acre farm, The Whitewing Ranch. He began his own agricultural consulting firm, where he advised and consulted with many farming companies, both in AZ and CA, including the College of Agriculture at the U of A. In 1986, he became General Manager of Verde Grande Vineyards in Maricopa, AZ where he continued to produce table grapes, citrus and peaches. He was inducted into the Yuma County Educator’s Hall of Fame for his dedication to education in Eastern Yuma County. He has served on many boards including the Maricopa Agricultural Advisory Council, the AZ Grape Growers Assoc., the AZ Citrus Research Council and the AZ Citrus Fruit and Vegetable Advisory Council, chaired the Citrus Advisory Board and was a member of the Sunkist Growers Council. In 2001 he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the U of A. He is preceded in death by his wife, Mary Catherine Kondora. He is survived by and deeply loved and missed by his two daughters Mary Frances and Claire Anne Kondora, grandson Nicholas C. Ince, his sisters Rose Marie Chilcoat and Theresa Williams, his brothers John and William Kondora. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am, Saturday, December 12, 2009 at Most Holy Trinity Catholic Church, 8620 N. 7th St., Phoenix, AZ 85020. Interment will follow at St. Francis Cemetery, 48th St. and Oak. In lieu of flowers, you may wish to make a donation to the American Diabetes Association at 5333 N. 7th Ave. #B212, Phx., AZ 85014 or a charity of your choice.