Joseph Yaver
May 14, 1933 - November 29, 2016
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Joseph Yaver
May 14, 1933 - November 29, 2016
Obituary
Joe Yaver, esteemed local activist, beloved storyteller, and long-time resident of Bellingham, passed away peacefully in his sleep at his home on Nov. 29. He was 83.
A descendant of immigrants from Poland, Joe was born (1933) and raised in the rough Depression neighborhoods of Brooklyn, New York. After serving in the U. S. Army during the Korean War, he worked in Brooklyn as a theatrical producer, in Europe as advisor to engineers and marketers of electrical and technological projects, in Seattle for the King County Opportunity Council, and for 24 years, in California and then Washington State, as Executive Director of SPIE, The International Society for Optics and Photonics, now located on South Hill. Joe was proud of helping to influence the park-like design of SPIE so that it would blend in with natural surroundings and respect neighborhood ecology. Joe was also one of the original organizers, and a long-time promoter of the renowned Spark Museum of Electrical Invention in downtown Bellingham. In addition, he was co-founder of Responsible Development, a local non-profit group that for years spearheaded the efforts to save, on Chuckanut Ridge, a dense urban forest for the enjoyment of future generations. In this last regard, Joe’s efforts bore fruit when the Chuckanut Community Forest Park District was created in 2013.
Joe is survived by Agnete, his beloved wife of forty-eight years, his son Eric, of Seattle, Washington, by his twin sister Florence Friedman, of Laguna Woods, California, and by an extended family of nephews and nieces living around the world.
In lieu of flowers you may donate to the Joe and Agnete Scholarship Fund, c/o SPIE (PO Box 10, Bellingham, WA 98227) or The Spark Museum of Electrical Invention (1312 Bay Street, Bellingham, WA 98225).
To share your memories of Joe, please visit wordpress-271002-1416095.cloudwaysapps.com.
Memorial Service
- Date & Time: December 28, 2016 (12:00 AM)
- Venue: Lairmont Manor
- Location: 405 Fieldstone Rd Bellingham, WA 98225 - (Get Directions)
3 responses to Joseph Yaver
Jim Christopoulos says:
November 29, 2016
Our dearest condolences to Joe’s family. We will miss seeing him walking into the restaurant always with a smile on his face and a quick joke to be made. We really enjoyed his quiet but funny sense of humor. Our prayers are with you and all of Joe’s friends.
Jonathan Field Winter says:
November 29, 2016
Joe was a friend the moment I met him. He was a true visionary who could see value where others did not. His encouragement led me to understand the true value of a collection of antique radios which were on display in a small shop on Railroad Ave. He understood both past and future and could see the educational value as well as the attraction such a collection could be for this community.
For what is now the SPARK Museum of Electrical Invention we can thank Joe Yaver for watering and nurturing the beginning.
I have lost a rare friend as has this community. I will miss you Joe.
Terry Montonye says:
November 29, 2016
Palos Verdes to Lairmont Manor to the south end of the top of South Hill. None of that was easy! But then look at all that happened after that: aerospace sensing, laser angioscopy, laser nano-lithography, astronomical instrumentation, electronic imaging and a whole lot more, Gorbachev saying “no way we can compete with all of that.” Then after retiring he didn’t stop, contributing to land trusts to save our salmon plus old time radio downtown featuring music on 102.3 FM that’s even older than most of us old-timers!
The book “Gotham” was written too soon. It missed all that Brooklyn Joe and his loyal employees and friendships have accomplished before and after he got to Bellingham. And, of course, Agnete! Has there ever been a more harmonious couple? Those two were exceedingly well traveled and accomplished as a twosome! The loss of Joe is the end of an era, one in which no science and engineering via Gary Forest and Rick Feinberg — and Scott Walker — was out of bounds! His staffs from Sue Davis to Ann Noteboom were as loyal as any on the face of the earth. Everybody loved and admired Joe!
To Agnete and Eric in Joe’s absence, may the grace of God be with you two as the oldest of us who knew and admired him listen to 102.3 in his memory!
Terry Montonye