Paul Luvera Journal

Today 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 the…

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Carol Ann Ryan Luvera, the mother of our eight children, died last Friday evening September 16, 2022 in Mount Vernon, Washington at the care facility where she was a patient. The children had been keeping vigil after the doctor said she had only a day or so to live. She was in a coma. The children Michael, Elizabeth, Dan and Theresa were there when she died. Theresa was in the room at the time holding her mother’s hand. She reported…

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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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This is in remembrance  of  my friend of many years, Daniel Sullivan, who died of lung cancer the morning of July 1, 2012 in Seattle. He  was 86 years old. Dan was a plaintiff’s trial lawyer who accomplished so much in his life. He was the Washington  State Trial Lawyers  Association president in 1974-75, WSTLA Trial Lawyer of the Year winner in 1984 and recipient of the then-WSTLA Lifetime Achievement Award in 2004. Dan was responsible for the formation of…

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My friend and long time colleague died early in the morning on St Patrick’s day.  He was not a lawyer, but he taught me more about representing clients then any law professor ever did. Bob was working for an insurance company as an adjustor when I met him in Mount Vernon. I had started a law practice after ending my partnership with Harwood Bannister and Stanley Bruhn. I had no law partners, but I had the good sense to hire…

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My father in law, Hollis Hall Barnett died in Puyallup, Washington at the age of 83 on March 22nd, 1990. He was a unique and wonderful man. You can read about his extraordinary wife Betty Barnett and more about this couple who I grew to love.  https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2010/03/i-write-this-in-memory-of-my-wifes-father-hollis-hall-barnett-whodied-in-puyallup-washington-on-march-22-1990-at-the-a.html Hollis was born in Buckley, Washington on May 3, 1907 and spent his younger years at Mt. Rainier National Park where his father, Herman “Herm” Burke Barnett, was a National Park Ranger. Hollis…

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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…

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My sister Phyllis Luvera Ennes died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three Luvera children, Anita Mayer and I as the youngest. For my previous post about Phyllis see  https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/01/phyllis-luvera-ennes-1928-2013.htm  Born to Paul and Mary Luvera in Anacortes 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 and in 1953 a teaching certificate from Western Washington University. She completed…

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My grandmother, dad’s mother,  died on December 20, 1946 in Anacortes. She was an Italian grandmother who looked like an Italian grandmother.  She was an outstanding cook with many talents. She spoke only a few words of English, but visiting Nonna and Nonno Luvera was an adventure because she was always feeding us children wonderful food or treats whenever we visited. In the photo is Nonna, my sisters Phyllis, Anita, me and my grandfather Nicola Luvera.  this is in memory…

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