Gerald John Lovchik

Gerald John Lovchik

Gerry was born at home on Nov. 10th, 1938 in Pisek, North Dakota, a town of fewer than 200 people where the main street was named after his great uncle. When he was 12, the family moved to Albuquerque and then Denver, finally settling in Yakima, where Gerry graduated from Marquette High School in 1956. He joined the army, and three years later was mustered out in La Rochelle, France, where he and his French wife, Yvonne, lived for several years.

When Gerry and Yvonne moved to Seattle, Gerry completed his math degree at Seattle University, and joined the actuarial firm of Milliman and Roberts. Sixteen years later, he left M & R, and returned to Seattle U for a teaching certificate. He taught math in Pateras, Washington for four years. Returning once again to Seattle, Gerry and his partner Marilyn Stauter opened the Couth Buzzard Bookstore in the Wallingford Area of Seattle. The next year, 1989, they moved the bookstore into larger quarters on Greenwood Avenue in the Phinney Ridge area, where it quickly became a neighborhood fixture. During that time, Gerry managed to squeeze in one more degree, a Master's in Counseling, which he put to good use leading the Rational Recovery groups that met at the store. While operating his third bookstore in Issaquah, Gerry earned his dramatic chops by appearing in four plays at the Black Dog Theater in Snohomish. He had recently taken up writing, and was working on two separate science fiction novels.

Gerry loved books of all kinds. He loved watching and playing sports, discussions and friendly arguments, and every kind of food he'd ever eaten. He also liked every person he'd ever met. He never judged another person by what they said or did or were.

Gerry died June 1, and is survived by his three siblings and their families: John and Vicky Lovchik, Kathy and Darrell Devine, Joe Lovchik and Ruth Johnson, six nieces and nephews, numerous grandnieces and nephews; by many cousins, and by special friends Marilyn, Rose, and Bill.

A memorial for Gerry will be held from 2-4 p.m. on Saturday, June 29th at Spiro's Pizza and Pasta, located at 18411 Aurora Avenue North in Shoreline.

Everyone is welcome.