Paul Luvera Journal

My sister Phyllis Ennes died on January 7, 2013. She was the oldest of the three children with Anita Mayer in the middle 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 she graduated from Anacortes High School in 1946 with honors and attended the University of Washington where hs obtained a degree in English. In 1953, the year I graduated from high school, she earned a teaching certicate from Western…

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My friend Nick J.  Petrish died in Anacortes on December 19, 2011. We had a long friendship. We went from grade school through high school together. We worked together from 1977 until his illness in 2011. He was a friend and a good man. I've written about him previously: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2012/12/nicholas-petrish-dec-19-2011.html.html  I think about  him during this Christmas season. May he  rest  in peace.

My grandmother, dad's mother, died December 20, 1946 in Anacortes. She was born in Italy and followed her husband Nicola with dad and the other children after he immigrated to America. She  was a classic looking Italian grandmother who looked and sounded like what an Italian grandmother should. she spoke virtually no English but she  was a a wonderful cook who was always feeding us children something whenever we visited. I've written about her before: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2013/12/phyllis-flippa-luvera-1870-1946.html.htm  In the photo is Nonna, my sisters Phyllis, Anita, me and my grandfather Nicola Luvera….

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Dr. Joseph Voegtlin MD was born in Seattle in 1926. He died in Skagit County on November 5, 2011. He was my long time friend and family physician until his retirement in 1992. He graduated from the University  of Washington in 1954 with  honors. He was instrumental in opening the hospital in Mount Vernon where he served as Chief of Staff and Chief of Surgery.  Joe had a gift for diagnosing problems and was a skillful surgeon as well. He was a great medical expert witness and…

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For many years Lita and I have been friends with a trial lawyer in Fort Lauderdale and his wife, Shelly and Bobbe Schlesinger. She died this January and at San Diego her husband and two trial lawyer sons  were with us attending a legal meeting where she was to be remembered. Lita gave a beautiful memory of her relationship with Bobbe and I'm reprinting it below. This is a part of the newspaper obituary:  Barbara Schlesinger , 82, of Golden Beach, passed away January 18, 2015 surrounded by her family….

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I've written about John Carabba before. See https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2009/07/john-carabba-died-monday-july-14-2009-at-the-island-hospital-in-anacortes-he-had-fallen-on-the-friday-before-and-fractured.html John Carabba died Monday July 14, 2009 at the Island Hospital in Anacortes. His background was the American story. After getting out of the Navy at Whidbey Island he moved toAnacortes, my home town. He operated a Chevron service station at 12th and Commerical for many years, but over the time had many other successful business interests. My connection to John was his friendship with my dad and our family. He was honored with…

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On an early Friday morning, July 7th2000, 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. I've published an account…

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I've written about my  friend Dan Sullivan  who died at age 86 on July 1st 2012: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2012/07/daniel-f-sullivan-july-1-2012.html  I've said about him: "Dan was my mentor and my friend. It was Dan I turned to for professional help. We associated on many cases and worked together many times. We enjoyed each others company and laughed a lot. Dan had that great Irish sense of humor. He was a great trial lawyer with an enormous heart and a high sense of ethics. It was impossible not…

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 I've written about my grandfather, Nicola Luvera before: https://paulluverajournalonline.com/weblog/2014/07/nicola.html He died on Independence Day, July 4, 1956 well  into his nineties. This Italian immigrant never learned English and had almost no education, but was hard working. His courage in immigrating to Canada and earning enough to bring his family too, illustrates what a unusual person he was. He worked  hard all his life. First, as a railroad hand installing track, then in  the coal mines and the saw mills until he joined my dad…

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My life has been a series of fortunate relationships which have contributed to who I am today. Two people who died in February were part of my past relationships who deserve acknowledgement. Dr. Dexter Johnson was an internationally recognized radiologist born December 6, 1931 and died February 4, 2003. He graduated from the University of Washington medical school. He began as a general practice physician in Lynden plus residency time on the medical staff at the old  State mental hospital in Sedro…

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