James Albert "Jim" Grazini

James "Jim" Albert Grazini

James "Jim" Albert Grazini, loving father of four, cherished husband, and Mountlake Terrace's own Mr. Wizard, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2009 graced by the love of his children and grandchildren.
Jim was born in San Francisco, CA on June 19, 1927. His youth was filled with memorable boyhood adventures: climbing from tree to tree in Golden Gate Park, careening at dangerous speeds on roller-skates down the hilly streets, and sailing hand whittled ships in a pond, with his one armed uncle. He often retold the story of the Golden Gate Bridge's opening in 1939, in which he was one of the first pedestrians to cross. Two years later, the World's Fair came to San Francisco. He photographed "Treasure Island" and the staged battles between the cowboys and Indians. He was to remember these childhood episodes fondly and excitedly for the rest of his life.
And then the war began. Upon facing the necessity for adventure and patriotic duty, Jim joined the Merchant Marines. He became initiated into the world of the sea by sailing across the equator. He served his country on an ammunition carrying ship in the South Pacific. Even in the midst of chaos and bigotry, his generosity and humanity showed by befriending the Japanese prisoners and giving them cigarettes. While at sea, his ship sank from a kamikaze attack. He was knocked unconscious, and was put on a lifeboat by a Chinese mess-man.
After the war he traveled to exotic countries, sleeping in a hammock on the deck, making friends, and acquiring stories that he would later tell to an eager listener's awe and fright: He spoke of dirty streets in India, Panamanian rum, handfuls of asbestos, grandiose opera-houses, and threats from poison dart blowing natives deep down the Amazon.
At port in Vancouver, Jim met a pretty girl wearing a softball uniform named Pennie. They courted and he sent her letters from sea. While on leave in Texas, he called her from a phone booth in front of the Alamo, asking her to be his wife. Pennie Derby and Jim Grazini were married on August 13, 1948. They moved to San Francisco, and then north, later settling in Mountlake Terrace, WA. Fifty years later they went back to the same phone booth in Texas, and it was still there.
Jim and Pennie raised four children, Jim Jr., Patty, Jeff, and Jerry. Jim taught his children by example rather than lecture. The children quietly learned from their father's strong work ethic and his acts of kindness, sincerity, and generosity. Jim was proud of his children and often told stories to his friends. Some of these stories exaggerated the children's deeds and confused the truth. To the children it was both flattering and embarrassing. These tall tales epitomized the pride he had for his children.
In Mountlake Terrace Jim opened Mr. Wizard, as an upholsterer. With self-taught virtuosity he became a man of the needle and thread. His hands lent to the tactility of his work and his eyes to the patterns of the fabric. His hands were strong and gentle. With friendliness and generosity, his shop became a meeting-place for his friends and clients making it part place of business and part clubhouse. When a stranger came in and asked for a favor, he always helped. When they inquired about the payment he said, "You don't owe me anything, just few kind words".
Jim was an active member of the Mountlake Terrace community. As a Lion's club member he enjoyed the fellowships, fund raising, and visiting the conventions. In a notorious photograph he is wearing a ballet outfit with an enormous smile, dancing in a circle with his friends. When asked about the photograph he grins and tells the story of a Vancouver Lion's club convention in which he and his fellows danced Swan Lake and won first prize for the performance.
In his commitment to community service, Jim joined the American Legion where he resumed to be an integral and active member. In continuity of his spirit of adventure, Jim never stopped traveling, later with his wife and sometimes his children. Whether at an American Legion meeting, atop a camel in Morocco, at a Casino in Las Vegas, or in the living room surrounded by the people who love him, Jim enjoyed life and it's different adventures.
After his dear wife Pennie passed away in 2008, Jim moved in and with his son, Jeff and wife, Evelyn. His legacy here remains in his children and grandchildren, friends and acquaintances, who knew and loved him as a sincere, generous, honest, and loving man.
He is survived by his children, James Jr., Patty and husband, Robert Kogane, Jeff and wife, Evelyn, and Jerry and wife, Teresa; his grandchildren, Tobias Grazini, Tynan Kogane, Leah Grazini, and Nicholas Grazini; his sister, Alice Gilstrap; and sister-in-law, Gloria Paulsen.
A memorial will be held in celebration of Jim's life at 2 p.m., on Saturday, August 8, at the American Legion Hall, 22909 56th Ave. W. Mountlake Terrace.