NICK MARKOVICH Sr.

Nick L. Markovich Sr Nick Markovich Sr passed away peacefully on December 4, 2012 at the age of 84. He was born on July 28, 1928 in Gig Harbor, Washington, a descendant of one of the earliest pioneer families. Nick was raised in the Croatian fishing community, and like his father before him, followed that course throughout his working life. For fifty-three years, Nick skippered boats from Puget Sound to the Bering Sea, focusing most of his career as a salmon Purse Seine Vessel captain in Southeast Alaska. Later he worked alone drifting salmon gillnets in the waters of Alaska and Puget Sound, from boats that he himself had built. In the off seasons, Nick applied his considerable wood working and carpentry skills as a building contractor, constructing numerous homes and apartment buildings in Gig Harbor and Tacoma. A renaissance man, Nick possessed an unusual combination of common sense, intellectual acuity, a quick wit and quiet humor. He was an avid student of history, economics and politics, but could also display his artistic side as an accomplished pianist. He might have become a professional musician, but chose to pursue music for his own pleasure and that of family and friends. We marveled at how those calloused hands could produce such beautiful sounds. A lifelong parishioner of St Nicholas Catholic Church, Nick was also a member of the Holy Names Society and the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Slavonian American Benevolent Society, a founding member of the Gig Harbor Commercial Fishermens Club, and a charter member of the Gig Harbor Fraternal Order of Eagles. Nick was a loving, compassionate and generous man who will be dearly missed and remembered by his spouse of 66 years, Phyllis, his sister Francis Peterson (Pete), his brother Peter Markovich (Toni), and his children Nick Markovich (Lenni), Mitchell Markovich (Deanna), Janis Finn (Jim), and Joseph Markovich. He was blessed with thirteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. Memorial services will be held at St Nicholas Catholic Church in Gig Harbor on December 10, 2012, beginning at 11:00 am. A reception will follow at the church hall. Remembrances may be made to the St Nicholas Parish School.