Thomas Lajcik; Thousand Oaks Attorney

Thomas Lajcik, a Thousand Oaks attorney and 21-year Ventura County resident, has died. He was 59.

Lajcik died on Monday after suffering a heart attack while hiking in Thousand Oaks.

Born in Oak Park, Ill. in 1937, Lajcik graduated from Morton High School in 1954. After attending the University of Chicago, Lajcik earned a degree in chemistry from the University of Cincinnati in 1950.

Once out of college, Lajcik went to work as a research chemist in Cincinnati. Lajcik later moved to Canoga Park for a new research job before settling in Thousand Oaks to work at Rocketdyne in the 1970s.

But when the defense industry began laying off employees, Lajcik’s son, Thomas Lajcik Jr., said his father decided to go back to school and get a law degree.

“He had a very sharp mind,” said the younger Lajcik, who lives in Plano, Texas. “The science part of him was always figuring things out.”

Lajcik graduated from the San Fernando Valley College of Law in 1978 and set up his own family law practice in Thousand Oaks. Lajcik worked as an attorney for 18 years before retiring to pursue his hobbies, including camping, hiking and playing bridge and chess.

“He was very much interested in new and exciting things,” his son said. “He loved California. He was constantly traveling and always hiked around and just loved being outdoors.”

In addition to his son Thomas, Lajcik is survived by his wife, Mary Ann, of Thousand Oaks; another son, Tim of Santa Cruz; daughter Linda Enright of Thousand Oaks; sister Lorna Lajcik of Palatine, Ill., and three grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Friday at Pierce Brothers Griffin Chapel in Thousand Oaks. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that any memorial donations be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are being handled by Pierce Brothers Griffin Mortuary of Thousand Oaks.