Everything to Know About Katica Herjavec: Robert Herjavec’s Beloved Mother
By Sarah Jenkins
Q1: Who was Katica Herjavec?
A1: Katica Herjavec was the mother of Canadian-American entrepreneur and Shark Tank star Robert Herjavec. Born in Croatia, she fled Yugoslavia with her husband and young son in 1970 to build a new life in Toronto, Canada.
Q2: What is the famous vacuum cleaner story involving Katica?
A2: Shortly after arriving in Canada, an aggressive door-to-door salesman pressured Katica into signing a contract that drained the family’s entire $500 life savings for a vacuum cleaner. The financial blow deeply affected her young son, driving Robert to study salesmanship and ensure his mother would never be taken advantage of again.
Q3: How did Katica inspire Robert Herjavec to join Dancing With the Stars?
A3: Katica loved ballroom dancing and watched the sport constantly while undergoing cancer treatments. Following her death in 2007, Robert accepted an invitation to compete on season 20 of Dancing With the Stars in 2015 as a tribute to her memory.
Q4: When did Katica Herjavec pass away?
A4: Katica passed away in 2007 after a prolonged battle with ovarian cancer, just as her son Robert was rising to international prominence in business and television.
Sarah Jenkins is a veteran tech journalist with over 12 years of experience covering artificial intelligence, mobile innovations, and digital ethics. Her insights have appeared in leading technology publications worldwide.
