My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich died the year I was born – 1935. I was born on February 21st of 1935, but he died a month later on March 5th of that year. As a result, I never knew this unique man. Nonno Babarovich was born April 12, 1861 in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in Croatia off the coast of Split in the Adriatic Sea. Peter was the second child of his father, Ernest…
In 2016 I published a post about our wedding anniversary that began: “On Sunday, February 21, I “endured” my birthday. At age 81 you don’t “enjoy” birthdays except perhaps from a feeling of gratitude at being alive. As I have said to others, it’s a little like waking up that morning and discovering you have been trapped in the body of an 81-year-old. You don’t fully get used to the idea that you are aging in your mind until physical…
In Edinburgh, Scotland there is a very unique library; “The Library of Mistakes.” https://www.libraryofmistakes.com/ Created in 2011 by a group of finance professionals, it is a specialized library focused on economic and financial mistakes throughout history. The library houses a collection of books, documents, and artifacts that highlight various economic and financial blunders, including market crashes, failed business ventures, and policy error The Library of Mistakes contains over 2,000 books, all relating to economics and finance. The Library of Mistakes…
We start this with the inescapable fact that the Constitution bars a religious test for public office. Unless it be clearly established that an individual holds and, given opportunity, would act upon tenets of a violently antisocial nature, his or her theological views by themselves should not be the basis for granting or withholding access to office. In addition, the First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” However,…
On January 24, 2002 William “Bill” Taylor died in Anacortes. He was one of Anacortes’s most successful basketball coaches. He also was a positive influence in so many young men’s lives, including mine. He was a great coach and mentor to me. I’ve published a full account of my high school relationship to this great coach and his profound influence in my life: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/william-taylor.html . In addition, I published a background of this unique man who was so important in guiding my life. https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2014/01/bill-taylor-anacortes-high-school-basketball-coach.html …
My sister Phyllis died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three children leaving the Anita Mayer, and I surviving. Phylllis was born to Paul and Mary Luvera in Anacortes on January 29, 1928. She graduated from Anacortes High School in 1946 with honors and attended the University of Washington where she obtained a degree in English. She also obtained a teaching certificate from Western Washington University in 1953. She completed a Master of Science degree from Montana…
Lita’s mother and my paternal grandmother died on the same day, December 20th, but thirty nine years apart. Lita’s mother, Elizabeth Catherine Barnett was an extraordinart woman. Very bright, wise and gifted in so many ways. I’ve written about this remarkable woman many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/my-mother-in-law-elizabeth-barnett-1910-1995.html It was my privilege to have known her. She was very intelligent, wise and a great judge of people. I loved her like my own mother for her many qualities and her understanding. This…
Last Friday was December 7th, 2023. I wondered, on that day, what the newspaper and media headlines would say. How would they report about one of the greatest events in America history? What am I talking about? Ah, that’s the problem. You see, on December 7, 1941 the American naval fleet and it’s military installation in Hawaii was suddenly bombed by attacking Japanese naval forces in a sneak attack. The attack killed 2,403 U.S. personnel, including 68 civilians, and destroyed…
My friend and mentor, George McIntosh died at his Bow, Washington home Sunday November 5, 2023. He leaves his wife Ann and his children. George was 99 years of age, having been born November 22, 1923 and would have been 100 years only seventeen days later on November 22nd. George has been a friend since I became a lawyer and was my mentor in my profession and life. In 1959, David Welts and I took the oath in front of…
November 4th is the anniversary of the death of my father, Paul Nicholas Luvera Sr. He was born on March 25, 1898, he died in Anacortes, Washington on November 4, 1990 at the age of 92. I’ve published details of his extraordinary life many times. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/11/dad-1.html for a complete history of his life. Dad was born in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. His father and oldest brother left for Canada where they worked for…
