For five generations, the men in Barbara Martinis Pearcey’s family have gone to sea, literally pulling a living from dangerous waters.
Her grandfather, Tony Mardesich, was among the early commercial fishermen in Everett who helped establish what once was a vital industry.
While her two sons continue the family tradition, the commercial fishing fleet has dwindled to just a few vessels these days. And Pearcey and others want to do something to preserve its memory.
“We’ve always felt Everett should have a fishermen’s memorial because the fishing fleet was such an important part of Everett’s economy,” said Kay Zuanich, a member of another fishing family.
Pearcey, Zuanich and Jerry Barhanovich pitched their idea to the Port of Everett’s three commissioners Tuesday, saying it would be a great addition to the planned $200 million redevelopment of the port’s north marina.
Barhanovich, the third generation of a fishing family, talked about the old fishing fleet and the dangers the fishermen of that era faced.
“For many skippers, their tools were no more than a compass and a weight on a line to check the depth,” he said.
Barhanovich said the fishing fleet is “a scene that is fast disappearing,” and that he thought it was important to show its impact on the area as well as “to memorialize the lives lost at sea.”
He noted that most West Coast ports already have similar memorials.
The port commissioners saluted the idea.
“I’m excited about it,” Don Hopkins said. “I don’t know why we haven’t had one sooner.”
Commissioner Jim Shaffer agreed.
“There’s no question we’re all for it,” he said. “The only questions are where do we put it and how do we proceed from here?”
Hopkins agreed to participate in a committee to raise funds for the project and get a design. He suggested throwing the idea out to local colleges and sponsoring a design competition.
“The untapped wealth at the colleges we have around here is unreal,” he said.
Mary Sievers, Barhanovich’s sister, said the project already has $10,000 in contributions, even though fund-raising hasn’t begun in earnest.
Zuanich said she hopes the memorial will be a realistic depiction of a commercial fisherman and how dangerous and difficult the work is.
“The older generation has left us, but we really want to remember them,” she said.
Mike Benbow: 425-339-3459; benbow@heraldnet.com.
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