Stephen Frank Politeo

Obituary Stephen F. Politeo 4/12/22 - 2/12/12 Steve was the son of Tom and Gizela (Breskovich) Politeo. He was born in Tacoma, attended St. Patrick's School until he was ten, when the family moved to the former Yugoslavia. There he studied languages, music, and philosophy. When WWII began, he worked as a photo journalist filming the war. He left for America, lived in New York, worked as a speaker on Voice of America, returned to Tacoma, helped care for his mother, worked in shipyards, became a commercial fisherman, fishing for tuna in California, and for salmon locally and in the Bering Sea, Alaska. He worked as a salesman for Lilyblad Petroleum, later becoming a business partner, and a partner in SolPro and Pacific Northern Oil. Steve was a member of the Serra Club, and a lifelong member of the Slavonian Hall. He was a baritone, founding member, and performed with the Tacoma Opera, and a subscriber to the Seattle Opera since its inception. Always a great feeling when someone mentions to one of us that he sang at their wedding. Steve married Rosemarie Gosselin in 1953, they shared 24 happy years together raising two sons, Steve and Mike, before her death in 1977. In 1982, Steve married Jan (Leedy Rohlfs) living a love story for 30 years. He was preceded in death by his sister, Lukrecia, and is survived by his brother, Frank (Zdenka), wife, Jan, sons, Steve (Abby) and Mike (Lisa), step-son Marcus Rohlfs (Melissa), four grandchildren, Spencer, Claire, John, and Madison, and two step-grandchildren, Alexandria Chick and Cole Rohlfs, and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Steve lived a full, adventurous and happy life. He was interested in history, appreciated art, enjoyed literature, travel, ballroom dancing, and loved to sing. Above all, he loved his family and friends. Family asks to please consider making a donation in Steve's memory to Bellarmine Preparatory School, or the Young Artist Program at Seattle Opera. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 11:00AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1001 North "J" Street, Tacoma, WA 98403. Visitation will be Friday, February 24, 2012 from 10:00AM to 5:00PM at Gaffney Funeral Home in their Chapel. Interment at Calvary Cemetery. Bellarmine Preparatory School Development Office 2300 S. Washington St. Tacoma, WA 98405 253.761.3520 Young Artist Program at Seattle Opera P.O. Box 9248 Seattle, WA 98109 206.389.7669 seattleopera.org