Obituary of Fred Anthony Stanich

Fred Anthony Stanich passed away peacefully in University Place, Washington on Saturday, January 8, 2011, with family at his side. He was 79 years old. Fred was born to John and Matilda Stanich in San Francisco, California on October 7, 1931. He joined the Navy after high school and was stationed in Hawaii where he met and married Gerry Stanich in 1952. He attended the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Oahu where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. He taught the sixth grade at Pearl Harbor Elementary School where he was thought of as the “cool” teacher. His interest in adventure and distant lands led him to Brisbane, Australia where he continued to teach. Fred was passionate about nearly every activity that caught his interest. He raised prize-winning Gloxinia plants, won many handball tournaments, and stayed up until the wee hours of many mornings playing chess with friends. He loved the ocean and was an avid skin diver and spear-fisherman, swimming out to his favorite lobster holes along the Hawaiian coastlines at Maile Beach, Makapuu and Waimea Bay. Later in life he moved to Southern California where he enjoyed many hikes with friends into wilderness areas such as Joshua Tree and the San Gabriel Mountains. One of his joys was making others happy. He had a talent for telling vividly memorable stories and performed card and magic tricks to the endless delight of children and adults alike. He was fond of music, had a passion for writing, and he loved to laugh.Ultimately, Fred enjoyed living and loved to talk about how incredible it is to be alive. He surrounded himself with others who promote peace in the world, beginning with the experience of inner peace. He will be remembered for his wit, his joyful personality, and for being the most beautiful Dad. He is survived by his former spouse and close friend Gerry Tsuruko Stanich, his four daughters Vicky Stanich (Rick McCloskey); Steffani (Richard) Ricarte; Toni Stanich (Matt Hardy); Tracy (Alan) Reynolds; three grandchildren Rocky Ricarte (Erin Levesque); Peter McCloskey; Jasmine Reynolds; two great-grandchildren, and extended family and friends around the world from Nepal to Mexico. Private service. Please no flowers or donations. We would like to thank Deepshika Bhasin, MD and the staff at Franciscan Medical Group, the staff at St. Clare Hospital, Maria Guina,MD, Amelito Malapira,MD, Peter Adams and the staff at Cascade Park Gardens, Sabrina Benjamin, MD and the staff at University Place Care Center and Franciscan Hospice for their exceptional care, and kindness. Dad’s favorite parting words when we weren’t going to see him for awhile were: “I will wave to you in the light.”