| HeraldNet - Snohomish County's online news source |
 TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2010 10:31 pm |
ADVERTISEMENT |
|||||||||
 |
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
|
|
||||||||||
Local News 
|
|||||||||||||||
Former fire chief was well-loved EVERETT — It’s been 30 years since Reino Watson retired from the Everett Fire Department, but his legacy hasn’t been forgotten.The former fire chief died Feb. 16. He was 88. Those who knew Watson understood how much he liked to build things, his son-in-law Mike Calvert said. When Watson was in high school, he built his own car from scratch. Later, he built a home for his family and a sailboat he called the Flying Finn and sailed for many years. “I was most impressed with his mechanical ability,” Calvert said. “He could make anything and fix anything.” Watson grew up in the Everett area and graduated from Lake Stevens High School, family members wrote in his obituary. He loved Everett and sharing stories about its history. Watson joined the Navy and served in the South Pacific during World War II. In recent years he traveled across the country for reunions with former shipmates, Calvert said. He joined the fire department in 1947 and rose to the rank of chief in the mid-70s. “Chief Watson will always hold a special place in my memory as he was my first fire chief,” Everett Fire Chief Murray Gordon said. “I will always be thankful for the positive influence (he) had on my early career as a firefighter and ... serving as a mentor during my career as chief.” Watson was proud to be a firefighter and proud of his Finnish heritage. He was a lifelong member of the Everett Elks. He leaves behind his wife of almost 50 years, Irma, daughters Raili and Reija and granddaughters. Her fire chief father always was there for his loved ones, Raili Calvert said. She and her sister spent their childhoods hiking, camping and sailing. Watson loved animals. He used to bring home injured birds and nurse them back to health, Raili Calvert said. One time during a hiking trip in the mid-’70s, he found a pigeon that had been shot. The pigeon spent the winter recovering at the family’s home. In the spring, Watson set it free. Everyone knew how much Watson loved his family, said Steve Parker, Everett Fire Department battalion chief. Watson hired Parker in 1979 and was a mentor to him. Watson went the extra mile to help others, Parker said. “He was incredibly compassionate,” he said. Watson once told family he wished he’d spent more time with his boat, Mike Calvert said. Other than that, he had few regrets. He was a man of few words. “That made it so that when he did speak, people listened,” Mike Calvert said. Katya Yefimova: 425-339-3452, kyefimova@heraldnet.com. Memorial A memorial is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at the Everett Firefighters Hall, 2411 Hewitt Ave. Donations in Reino Watson’s memory are being accepted to the Everett Medic One Foundation, 2811 Oakes Ave. |
- Acts of kindness comfort family of girl killed at Big Four Ice Caves
- Woman in hospital after I-5 crash south of Marysville
- Tulalips plan to improve I-5 access
- Two injured in early-morning I-5 crash near Arlington
- Whidbey land trust must raise $525K by Friday
- Marysville group searches for answers in the nation's supreme law
- Lynnwood girl injured in fall from second-floor window
- Arlington fire displaces family
- Going the distance
- New major highway considered for West
- Sultan man dead after Taser shock in Gold Bar
(39) - Business worried over talk of taxes (18)
- New major highway considered for West (14)
- Acts of kindness comfort family of girl killed at Big Four Ice Caves (11)
- Marysville group searches for answers in the nation's supreme law (11)
- Tulalips plan to improve I-5 access (11)
- Church rebuffs military concerns on Quran burning (10)
- Stephen Hawking: God isn't necessary (9)
- Learn secrets of old Everett on a walk back in time (8)
- Two women may be charged in fatal Whidbey crash (7)
|
|
 
|
|
|
|
| TODAY'S TOP JOBS |
| View All Top Jobs |
| Top Cars |
|
| Top Homes |
|
|
ADVERTISEMENT |
|
|
|Contact Us
|Advertiser Services
|Home Delivery
|Newsstand Locations
|Classifieds
|Feedback
|About the Company
|Work@the Herald
|Site Map |
|
COMMENTS | Be the first to comment
Log in or register to post a new comment.
To read other terms and conditions, click here