Jeff Samardzija

Birth Name: Jeffrey Alan Samardzija

Place of Birth: Merrillville, Indiana, U.S.

Date of Birth: January 23, 1985

Ethnicity:
*father – Serbian
*mother – German, some English

Jeff Samardzija is an American professional baseball player. He was a pitcher, who played with the Chicago Cubs, the Oakland Athletics, the Chicago White Sox, and the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is nicknamed “Shark.”

His father, Sam Samardzija, was a professional hockey player. His father is of Serbian heritage, the son of parents who emigrated from Europe around 1951. His mother had German, and some English, ancestry. Jeff’s brother, Sam Samardzija, Jr., played college football and baseball. He was raised partly in Valparaiso, Indiana.

Jeff’s paternal grandfather was named Nikola Samardzija.

Jeff’s paternal grandmother was Mika Raskovic (the daughter of Stevo Raskovic and Juja Dukic). Mika was born in Knin, Dalmatia, formerly Yugoslavia.

Jeff’s maternal grandfather is Donald Gene Lipke (the son of Russell William Lipke and LaMae/La Mae Blackman). Donald was born in Indiana. Russell was the son of William John Lipke, whose parents were German and surnamed Lüpke, with his father being from Uchtenhagen, Kreis Saatzig, Pommern, Preußen; and of Mae/May Sylvia Zahora. LaMae was the daughter of Grant A. Blackman and Jessie Irene Silkworth.

Jeff’s maternal grandmother is Jean Marie Kraft (the daughter of Martin Conrad Kraft and Lucille Maines).

Source: Obituary of Jeff’s paternal grandmother, Mika (Raskovic) Samardzija – http://www.legacy.com

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