Smilja Maynard Smilja Robnik Maynard was born on October 28, 1918 in Croatia and passed away peacefully on May 2, 2004 in Santa Clara. Her children and grandchildren were by her side throughout her last day. At 85 years old, she had lived a very full life and touched many with her inner strength, determination, independence, and devotion to her family. Mrs. Maynard leaves behind her three children, George, Maria, and Mark Duncan, her two grandchildren, Nathan Duncan and Elysia Johnson, her daughter-in-law, Dori Duncan and her two children, Odette and Ofelia Overton, her two sisters, Mladena Marinov and Bozena Wells, and her former husband, George A. Duncan. Mrs. Maynard lived life following her heart. In 1945, she left Yugoslavia and fled to Trieste, Italy to escape communism. She made her way to Livorno, Italy where she worked for the American Red Cross and met George A. Duncan, an officer in the American army stationed in Italy. The two married in Italy two years later and shortly thereafter came to the United States where their three children were born. When her marriage ended, Mrs. Maynard decided to go back to school and get a college education. She attended San Jose City College and went on to San Jose State University. In 1975, she met and married Dr. Merlin T.R. Maynard of Saratoga. She was widowed in 1978 and moved to San Jose in 1994 where she resided until her death. Mrs. Maynard was an activist. She was involved in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s and protested against housing discrimination in the San Jose area. In the early 1990s she became involved in protests of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina and was the head of an organization that gathered relief items and monetary donations for victims of the war in Bosnia-Herzegovina. In the late 1990s, she protested along with her daughter and others against injustices in Santa Clara County Family Court. This grass roots effort lead to sweeping changes of the family court system in Santa Clara County. Mrs Maynard loved Mariachi music and the music of Pete Escovedo. She was an avid reader, especially of history books, and she spoke several languages including Croatian, English, French, Italian, and German. One of her most memorable experiences of recent years was a cruise she took with her daughter and grandson to Alaska in 2002. Mrs. Maynard lived for her family and she loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally. She remained fiercely independent until the end and even though her health had been failing for years, she continued to live an active life and to live life to the fullest in spite of the deterioration of her health. She had a bright smile and will be remembered as an amazing woman who had grace and humor even while life was slipping away from her. She will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved her. Friends are invited to a Memorial Mass in her honor on Saturday, May 29, 2004, 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Church in Saratoga. Arrangements by OAK HILL FUNERAL HOME, San Jose.
Published in San Jose Mercury News on May 26, 2004
