Paul Luvera Journal

The year  I graduated from high school in Anacortes, Washington, my maternal grandmother Marija Babarovich died. Her story of immigration is one of great courage and sacrifice that I have described in writing about my mother. But, on the annversary of her death I want to reprint it again. I remember her vividly. A tall erect woman with hair piled high on her head, she looked regal. She spoke no English and we children spoke no Croation so communication was largely…

Read More Read More

 My maternal grandfather Peter (Petar) Babarovich was born April 12, 1861 in the village of Splitska on the island of Brac in the Adriatic Sea. He died in Anacortes, Washington March 5, 1935. Peter was the second child Ernest Babarovich and his wife Louise Setelich. The family exported wine and olive oil which they grew in their vineyards and olive orchards. He married Marija Mattia Vulic) in 1888, who was also born in Splitska. Peter's wife, my grandmother, was born September…

Read More Read More

November 4this the anniversary of the death of my father, Paul Luvera, Sr. Dad died in Anacortes, Washington on that date in 1990 at age 92. He was born March 25, 1898 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. Reggio is located right at the toe of Italy across from Sicily. His Italian name was Paolo Nicola Luvera, but in America he was Paul Nicholas Luvera.. In 1902 my grandfather Nicola was working in a slaughter…

Read More Read More

On Thursday, October 16, 2008 Gonzaga University presented its 2008 Gonzaga University Distinguished Alumni Awards. My beautiful and talented wife, Lita Barnett Luvera, along with orthopedic physician John W. Staeheli, Boeing executive William Geary, and developer Michael A. Tucci received awards. My unbiased opinion is, of course, that Lita gave the best acceptance speech and was most deserving of her honor. Various photographs from the lives of the recipients were shown on a screen as the reasons for giving the…

Read More Read More

\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\    NAPOLEON AND JOSEPHINE HAVING CHRISTMAS          

Susan Schell of the Peninsula Gateway has written a front page article about purse seine fishing and Gig Harbor. Her article Fishing for Harbor Heritage is well written. The photo below is of John Stanich who owned the fishing boat Welcome and who lived in Gig Harbor. Below that is a smaller shot of the Welcome on her way to the fishing grounds in Alaska. The article and photos had particular significance to me because I fished on the crew…

Read More Read More

My sister, Anita Luvera Mayer, of Anacortes, Washington is a talented weaver and textile artist. She has been weaving and working with textiles for over a quarter of a century. She has traveled throughout the United States and Canada as well as around the world giving lectures and conducting workshops. She has published numerous books about her work as well as publishing numerous articles on her work.Two of the most recent books are Clothing From the Hands That Weave and…

Read More Read More

I’m re-publishing a post about my dad who died on November 4, 1990 in Anacortes, Washington at the age of 92. He was born March 25, 1898 in Reggio Calabria, Italy, the son of Niccola and Fillippa Luvera. In 1910 he emigrated to Coleman, Alberta where he and his father worked in coal mines until the family moved to Anacortes in 1918. In 1922 he and his father opened Luvera’s Fruit Store at 7th & Commerical in Anacortes – (Photo:…

Read More Read More

Nancy Bartley, Seattle Times staff reporter, has written an article about my niece Kathleen Decker: "Tracking a killer’s trail: thing ‘CSI,’‘ but low tech." Kathleen is the daughter of my sister, Anacortes resident, Anita Mayer. Kathleen is a King County Sheriff’s Deputy who at her own expense took classes in 1998 on finding the evidence at crime scenes. She became a journeyman tracker and now teaches it as a coordinator of the King County Search and Rescue unit. Her skills…

Read More Read More

When I was growing up in the small town of Anacortes, my dad, Paul Luvera, Sr., was a prominent figure in town as well as the West side of the State of Washington. He operated our neighborhood grocery store at the same location, 7th and Commercial, for many years. He had been active in every community club or town activity for years. He had even served one term in the State Senate. He was very well known and was prominent…

Read More Read More