George Martin Cuculich

Obituary George M. Cuculich George M. Cuculich, 98, who lived the majority of his life in Old Town Tacoma passed away Thursday, May 13, 2010. George was the youngest of eight children born to Matthew and Frances (Pavecic) Cuculich. He was born at the family residence on North 30th January 21, 1912. George attended public schools in Tacoma but became a commercial fisherman at age 16 when he joined the crew of his brother-in-law Anton Kordich's purse seiner New Oregon. He later captained both the New Oregon and Kodiak and then skippered the New Oregon for 15 years after purchasing the purse seiner. George sold the New Oregon on New Year's Day in 1975 ending 46 years working on a purse seiner. After retirement George skippered the cannery tender for Pater Pan Seafood, Inc. and surveyed boats for insurance purposes. George also served on the board of directors of Fisherman's Packing Corporation, the Commercial Fisherman's Inter Insurance Exchange and the Purse Seine Vessel Owners Association which he helped found. He was past president of the Slavonian American Benevolent Society and the English Speaking Lodge of the Croation Fraternal Union. He belonged to St. Patrick's Catholic Church. George married Eva Dragecevich February 26, 1938. They lived in the house they built on North Starr for 60 years. He is survived by Eva, nephew Thomas Cuculich of Merced, California, niece Frances Pasnick of Eugene, Oregon and numerous other nephews, nieces and cousins. Funeral mass will be conducted at St Patick's, 1001 North "J" Street, Tacoma at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, May 20. Rosary will be at 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 19 at Gaffney Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to St. Patrick's Catholic Church or a charity of choice. Arrangements made by Gaffney Funeral Home. Published in News Tribune (Tacoma) on May 18, 2010