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On Saturday, Feb. 17, the Seattle waterfront lost a longtime advocate in Larry Ward. Ward, who lost a battle with this year’s deadly flu epidemic, was the facilities manager at the Pacific Fishermen yard at Fishermen’s Terminal.

“We lost a good friend of the maritime industry,” said Doug Dixon, general manager at Pacific Fishermen Shipyard, in a tribute to his longtime colleague.

“Larry was very active in the local maritime industry, serving in the Seattle Propeller Club, North Seattle Industrial Association, King County Maritime and the Manufacturing Industrial Council. He was a tireless advocate for the industry and his smile, laugh and strength will be deeply missed.

“In 1968, Larry’s father-in-law, Joseph Friback, had the house-aft Ben Jensen-designed crabber-tender F/V Tuxidni built at PacFish for his Snug Harbor Packing Co. cannery on Chisik Island in Cook Inlet, Alaska.

“Larry started at PacFish as a draftsman/hydraulic designer for Helge Thordarsen in the ’70s and left us as the facilities manager. He worked hard to develop workforce development programs to help introduce many to the maritime profession. He hung his hat at Rapp Hydema and Puget sound Hydraulics as well.

“Larry was instrumental in obtaining our MARAD grant, helping to maintain and improve the shipyard to a higher level of equipment and environmental compliance, administering over $8 million in capital improvements.

“His calming personality will be missed by all.”

Larry Ward’s memorial and reception will be this Saturday, March 3, from 1 to 5 p.m. at:

Our Redeemer’s Lutheran Church
2400 N.W. 85th St.
Seattle, WA  98117
http://ourredeemers.net/event/memorial-time-tbd/

Donations in Larry Ward’s honor can be made to:

Puget Sound Maritime
P.O. Box 81142, Seattle, WA 98108
www.ymta.net/about-us/donate
note in memory of Larry Ward, YMTA/Ballard Maritime Academy

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Jessica Hathaway is the former editor in chief of National Fisherman.

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