Paul Luvera Journal

At 86 years of age I have some childhood  memories of growing up in Anacortes Washington. Memories that have no particular significance but which have stayed with me. For example, when I was a youngster, Anacortes had a large commercial salmon fishing fleet. The skippers of the purse seine boats used cotton nets which had to be tarred for preservation during the fishing season. Later the cotton nets were replaced with Nylon that did not need treatment. There was a…

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On August 8, 1953 my maternal grandmother, Marija Babarovich died in Anacortes, Washington at age 90. It was the year of my high school graduation at Anacortes.  She was born September 21, 1863 in Splitska, Brac, Croatia. She was a woman of great courage, faith and personal sacrifice.  Her husband, my grandfather,  Peter, had died the year I was born in 1935 at Anacortes. He was born in 1861. I remember her vividly. A tall, erect woman with hair piled…

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On an early Friday morning, July 7th 2000, my mother Mary Thelma Babarovich, died in her sleep at the San Juan Care Center. Her death was not unexpected. After all, she was born on December 28, 1905 and was ninety four years old when she died. She had been in failing health for some time. Her passing was, in fact, a personal blessing to her as she had been ready to meet her maker for some time. She and dad…

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My paternal grandfather, Nicola Luvera, was born in Valanidi, Calabria Italy November 23, 1860 and died in Anacortes, Washington on July 4, 1956. His father, Paolo Nicola and mother Rosa Luvera were sheepherders and sharecroppers in Gallina Italy. Grandfather worked with his father until he was 16 years old when he moved to Reggio Calabria where a cousin Antonio working in a slaughterhouse. He was able to get a job with his cousin and lived with their  family for four…

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