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BORN

1922

DIED

2014

George Starkovich Obituary

George T. Starkovich

George Tony Starkovich, 91, died at his Seattle home on Feb 26, 2014. He was born on April 27, 1922 in Bellingham, to George and Zora (Radosevic) Starkovich, immigrants from Lic, Croatia. George was very proud of his Croatian heritage. He traveled to Croatia three times & greatly enjoyed visiting his Croatian aunts, uncle, cousins, & their children.

George left school at age 16 and began working at the same Bellingham coal mine as his father, joining the union local his father helped organize. George held various labor jobs in Bellingham & Seattle until 1957, when he started on a Seattle gardening crew, eventually working for himself and finally taking a grounds crew position at the U of W in 1965.

George proudly served in the army during WWII as a medic. He spent nearly 3 yrs in the South Pacific primarily with 754th tank battalion stationed in Bougainville, Solomon Islands and the Philippines, participating in the liberation of Manila. While in the Philippines, his unit received a direct bomb hit, killing his commander. George was awarded a purple heart and bronze star for his "composure, courage and unselfish devotion to duty." His citation stated that "his calmness and courage inspired the others present and was largely responsible for restoring order" while he treated the wounded. He submitted to treatment of his own wounds only after he had supervised the evacuation of all others to the hospital.

Although politically active before the war, his war experience solidified a life-long drive and continuing hope for world peace. George was a key organizer and emcee for the International Youth Peace Rally at Peace Arch Park in Blaine, WA in 1950, with singer Paul Robeson and thousands of participants from Canada and the US. Later that year he traveled to Warsaw, Poland as a delegate to a World Peace Conference.

George was called before the House Un-American Activities Committee in 1954. He not only refused to testify, but angrily challenged the committee members with his own questions. He was charged (but ultimately acquitted) of six counts of contempt of congress. His family has always been proud that he was called the "most contemptuous witness" to ever come before HUAC.

When George began working at the UW in 1965, he immediately became active in his local union (AFSCME, Local 1488). He served as president and vice-president for many years and helped union membership grow from a couple hundred workers to more than a thousand. George worked tirelessly to improve the working conditions for the UW's lowest-paid employees. Through his leadership role and with the help of many others, the first contract for the workers was obtained, many equal pay battles for women were won, and the first women were hired in previously all-male departments. After retirement from the University in 1984, George continued his leadership and activism serving as president and vice-president of the UW/Harborview (Chapter 28) Retired Public Employees Council for many years. He was honored to be a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging in 1995.

George and his wife Pat were loving friends and guardian of Richard, a developmentally delayed adult, for about 15 years until Richard's death. They remarkably enhanced Richard's life with inclusion in their lives & family, allowing the whole family to experience wonderful gifts from knowing this special individual.

George rode the Seattle-to-Portland bike ride 5 times in his 60s & 70s. He enjoyed mushrooming in the Cascades with his dear friend, Lyle Mercer, into his 80s.

George was preceded in death by his sister, Mildred, and his mother and father. He is survived by his wife and true life partner of 61 years, Pat; his son David (Vivian); his daughter Patty (Greg Allen), grandsons Elliot & Tyler Allen and Ronnie, and many dear relatives in Croatia.

No flowers please. George would have been so pleased by simply being remembered for his random acts of kindness, commitment to his community & union, and a legacy of inspiring those actions in others. Please take a child to the park, pick up litter, help an elderly neighbor with yard work, acknowledge and appreciate the housekeepers, custodians, and gardeners that you see, and always speak out for peace, social justice, fair pay and working conditions and the rights of all peoples and groups.

A celebration of George's life will be held at the UW Center for Urban Horticulture (Northwest Horticulture Society Hall), 3501 NE 41st St, Seattle on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00 PM.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The Seattle Times on Mar. 2, 2014.

Memories and Condolences
for George Starkovich

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Glenn Goldstein

March 13, 2014

Thank you George Starkovich for your advice and support to our health care workers union (1199nw) in our early days. I will always have fond memories of George. My best thoughts to the Starkovich family.

March 8, 2014

I remember George well, he was close friend of our family, one of my dads best friends. They were in business together while they were both black listed from getting jobs, it was called G and M gardeners. He was a wonderful man, warm and caring, but never afraid to speak up for what he thought was right. My condolences to the family.

Nora Strothman

March 4, 2014

The current UW Grounds staff is still reaping the benefits of George's dedication to making the workplace more labor friendly. Every rainy day, when I put on my UW provided steel-toed rubber boots, I think to myself, "Thank you, George Starkovich". And it all makes sense. When my feet are comfortable, I get more work done!

Cameron Tate

March 3, 2014

A lot of great memories with "Uncle George" I wanted to be just like him when I grew up!

March 2, 2014

I first got to know George during the union drive at Harborview Hospital in the mid-70's. I so valued and respected his leadership, inspiration and wisdom. I am grateful I connected with him last year to thank him for his mentorship of me during my activist years in Seattle. He taught me the value of having a multi-generational perspective and listening to those who have come before. I will always hold a place for him in my heart. R.I.P. George. My best to his wife Pat and his family. - Tom Gibbons

Henry Noble

March 2, 2014

Patty- what a beautiful tribute you wrote for your dad. I remember him fondly from my days as a member of his union and after. He truly lived his radical politics.

Paul & Emily Sisson

March 2, 2014

George Starkovich was a great guy. The world is a better place because he was part of it for so many years.

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Memorial Events
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Mar

9

Celebration of Life

2:00 p.m.

UW Center for Urban Horticulture (Northwest Horticulture Society Hall)

3501 NE 41st St, Seattle, WA

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