Vincent George Kokich

Obituary Vincent George Kokich On Wednesday, July 24, we lost a giant in our lives when Vincent George Kokich passed away suddenly in his Gig Harbor home. Born September 17, 1944, he lived his 68 years to the fullest and accomplished a tremendous amount. He would want more than anything to be remembered first, as a family man and second, a teacher. A lifelong resident of Tacoma, he attended Lowell Elementary, Mason Junior High and Stadium High School. He graduated from University of Puget Sound and then went on to complete his Dentistry and Orthodontic Degrees at the University of Washington. Beyond a scholar, he was a down-to-earth man who commercial fished every summer during college and could often be found working in his garden or spending time with his grandkids. He practiced orthodontics in Tacoma for 35 years, during which time he also taught at the University of Washington School of Orthodontics and had the opportunity to lecture all over the world. A true educator and consummate professional, he constantly worked to improve his craft, becoming a leader in the field of Orthodontics and Interdisciplinary Dentistry. Vince had been the President of the American Board of Orthodontics and the American Academy of Esthetic Dentistry. He retired from his practice and became the Editor-in-Chief of the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Though he loved his profession, the greatest love of his life was Marilyn, his wife of 44 years. Together, they made a home in Fircrest where they raised a family and filled it with love, laughter and tradition - extending its reach to nieces, nephews and cousins; all of whom felt at home there. Whether it was dinner together every night, holidays, vacations or spending time at the beach, everything Vince did was with family in mind and he loved nothing more than when family was together. Vince leaves behind his wife, Marilyn; mother, Helen; four children, Vince Kokich (Michelle), Mary Boer (Alex), Obie Kokich (Lindsay) and Marija Kokich (Lance); and seven grandchildren, Nicholas, Maddy, Nick, Luke, Kate, Jackson and Mia, all of whom he loved dearly. Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 30, 2013 at 11:30am at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in Tacoma, Washington. Inurnment at Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Kokich Family Endowment for Faculty Development, Bellarmine Preparatory School, 2300 S. Washington St. Tacoma, WA 98405, and to the Kokich-Shapiro Endowed Scholar Fund, UW Department of Orthodontics, 1959 NE Pacific Street, Health Sciences Center D-569, Box 357446, Seattle, Washington 98195-7446. Please leave online condolences at www.gaffneycares.com. Arrangements by Gaffney Funeral Home, 253-572-6003.