[3][4] While studying in Rome after the Second World War, Velikonja learned his father had been executed after a show trial in Slovenia.

[4] Velikonja met his future wife, Matilde (Tilly) Rus, a few years later in Trieste, where she was working as an English teacher.

[5] He emigrated to the United States in 1955, where he briefly worked as a manual laborer before continuing his academic career.

After graduating from high school in Ljubljana, Velikonja was initially interested in forestry and art history.

[2][3] After emigrating to the United States in 1955, Velikonja worked for the Cleveland Twist Drill Company.