Born Stjepan Albert Jeličić on 1 March 1923 in Sućuraj, Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes (present-day Republic of Croatia),[REF] the son of Victor and Srećka Jeličić,[REF] the family emigrated to New Zealand in 1927 [REF].
He was educated at Sacred Heart College,[REF] and later studied at Auckland University College, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture degree in 1949 [REF].