Richard Lee Lawson was born Sept. 30, 1943 in Friday Harbor, Wash., to Gilbert and Geraldine Lawson. He lost his fight with cancer on Jan. 26, 2010 at The University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle. Richard left behind his mother, Jeri Lawson; son, Richard Jr. (wife, Tricia), son, Tommy (wife, Leah); stepson, Chris (wife, Sherry), and their sons, Chaz, Parker and Gabe; four grandchildren, Jordan, Ashley, Brandy Lee, and Dylan; brother, Victor Lawson; sister, Ruthie Paull; nieces, Cathy VanZanten and Ashley Paull; nephews, Rob Lawson, Adam Paull; and countless other relatives and friends.
Marsha Lois Rachlin, “MaPooh,” mother, grandmother and friend, lost her short battle with cancer on Dec. 8, 2009 at age 72, leaving behind her daughters Karen Ruby and Maya Sanchez and granddaughters Rachel and Nicole Ruby.
Wolf Bauer, who launched his engineering career in 1936 with Roche Harbor Lime & Cement Co. and later became a noted conservationist and outdoorsman, will be honored by the state Legislature on his 98th birthday. Bauer, who lives in Anacortes but has a daughter-in-law and two granddaughters on San Juan Island, is the subject of a resolution approved by the state House of Representatives. Bauer’s birthday is Feb. 24. House Speaker Pro Tem Jeff Morris and Rep. Dave Quall will present the resolution to Bauer on Feb. 26.
Photographer Chad Lyons of Friday Harbor won a photo contest sponsored by Hawaii magazine. His photo is featured in the February issue of the magazine. Lyons won first place in the Kauai category; three other photos made it into the top 40. There were more than 2,500 entries. You can see his photos on www.hawaiimagazine.com.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Carrie A. McLeish (Joslin), a 1989 graduate of Friday Harbor High School, is studying computer security at Fort Gordon, Ga. The school is a nine-month program. She was one of only eight selected from 50 of the Army’s top warrant officers to participate in this course.
The San Juan Islands Museum of Art & Sculpture Park (IMA), at 28 First St. in Friday Harbor, will open “A Retrospective of Helen Loggie, 1917-1952,” Jan. 29, 5-8 p.m. Helen Loggie, a nationally recognized artist, lived most of her life in Bellingham and on Orcas Island. This exhibition links San Juan Island and Orcas Island in a unique manner, for The Lambiel Museum on Orcas is loaning part of its Helen Loggie Collection of more than 100 pieces, the largest private collection in existence, to IMA for an exhibit that will run through March 7.
Ask San Juan Island native and musician Ryan Browne about Salt Spring Island’s Harry Manx and he’ll tell you Manx is one of the “great talents to come out of the islands.” A successful touring performer (he just won “Acoustic Artist of the Year” from Canada’s Maple Blues Awards for the third consecutive year), Manx brings his unique mix of “east meets west” to the San Juan Community Theatre’s Whittier stage on Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Unique glimpses into San Juan Island’s history, people and culture come alive in San Juan Community Theatre’s intimate Gubelman Theatre during the 2010 Islands Playwrights Festival, Jan. 28-31 and Feb. 5-7 and 11-14.
Susan Meredith, an early island kayaker, historical reenactor and frequent participant in the Fourth of July Parade, died Jan. 26. She was 91. “Susan Meredith of San Juan Island passed away peacefully on the evening of Jan. 26, 2010,” Ron Garner e-mailed on behalf of the family. “She has loved the San Juan Islands for most of her life and has been a resident and enjoyed living in the island community for 30 years. She was 91. An obituary will follow when available.”
Brett and Sandra Percich are happy to announce the birth of their son, Matthew William Percich, on Dec. 18, 2009. Matthew was born at Balboa Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif., at 2:33 a.m. and weighed 8 pounds 9 ounces and was 22 inches long.
Matthew and his parents live in Chula Vista, Calif.
Matthew Gray Palmer’s sculpture “All Things within All Things” was safely delivered, installed and dedicated in Norfolk, Va., last weekend. “Heartfelt thanks to all in our island community for your outpouring of support and interest in the project,” the artist and his wife, Danielle Dean Palmer, said in an e-mail.
“Take one day at a time and never underestimate the power of God,” Leota Birdsong said. “I thank the hospital and ICC staff for saving my life. My faith is really strong and I’m thankful the Lord decided to give me a second chance.”
The movie incorporates new CGI technologies that will change the exotic environment and bodies of the indigenous into incredible photorealistic 3D imagery. So incredible and accurate looking in fact that the movie and ideas have taken over 10 years to formulate. Though the technological level of the movie is quite amazing, the storytelling portion was somewhat cliché, the story line resembling quite a few others.
