Most Worshipful Brother George SimovichJurgich was born in Silverdale on April 4, 1923. His parents came to the United States from the country of Montenegro, which is now a province of Yugoslavia. His father came to the Northwest to work in the woods as a tree faller on the Kitsap County Peninsula. He lost his life in a logging accident, leaving his widow at eighteen years of age with two children, Zorka and George, both under two years of age.
When George was three years old, his mother remarried and moved to Kent where the children grew up bearing the name of her new husband. When George was drafted in World War II, the man he knew as his dad told him about his biological father. George replied, "You are the only father I have ever known, and this changes nothing about how I feel about you." The strength of character and decisiveness that is the hallmark of George Jurgich's life was fashioned in that close-knit community, tempered by adversity and sustained by his deep and abiding faith as a member of the Orthodox Church.
Having served in the European Theater in the Third Army under General Patton, George emerged from World War II with a staff sergeant's stripes and memories that come from combat, but the difficulties of war were forgotten quickly in the company of his beautiful wife Violet. They met in Seattle and George was struck by her classic beauty, but even more he appreciated her brilliance, her keen intelligence, and her serene confidence. They were married in 1944. Their union produced two beautiful daughters, Diana (who married George G. Plumis and presented George and Vi with grandchildren Theodore and Gregory Plumis) and Georgia (who married C. Blair Leckie and added Andrew and Alice Elizabeth Leckie to the family).
George Jurgich was made a Mason in Maritime Lodge No. 239 in 1955. His first lodge appointment was as Chaplain and he held every successive office culminating in his election as Worshipful Master in 1964. Most Worshipful Brother Audley Mahaffey appointed him Grand Junior Steward in 1967; Most Worshipful Brother Matt Martin appointed him Deputy of the Grand Master in District No. 4 in 1984, and he was reappointed by Most Worshipful Brother Warren Gilbert, Jr., in 1986.
He served on numerous Grand Lodge Committees, including instituting the planned giving to the Endowment Fund Program for the Masonic Retirement Center. He was elected Junior Grand Warden in 1993 and Most Worshipful Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Washington in 1996.
In addition to his Grand Lodge activities, Most Worshipful Brother Jurgich was a member of the Valley of Seattle, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Freemasonry; Seattle Chapter No. 3, Royal Arch Masons of Washington; Walter F. Meier Council No. 22, Royal and Select Masters of Washington; Seattle Commandery No. 2, Knights Templar of Washington; the Grotto; St. Albans Conclave, Red Cross of Constantine; Thistle Clan, Royal Order of Scotland; Allied Masonic Degrees; Honorary Member, Supreme Council, International Order of DeMolay; Court No. 52, Royal Order of Jesters; and Nile Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. George served as Illustrious Potentate of Nile Shrine in 1991. He is an honorary life member of numerous lodges in this and other jurisdictions. He received the Grand Master's Achievement Award in November 1991 from Most Worshipful Brother James R. Vannice. He was awarded the Certificate ofAppreciation from the Masonic Service Association of North America, as well as numerous other awards of appreciation.
Professionally, he was involved in the beverage industry until 2000, when the family-owned distributing company in Everett, Riverside Beverage, was sold. In their retirement, George and Vi traveled between their homes in Edmonds and Palm Springs.
A community activist, our Brother served as president of the Greenwood Kiwanis Club, president of the Shoreline Library Board at its inception, and was instrumental in establishing the Innis Arden Swimming Pool. He was a charter member of the Serbian Hall and the American Serbian Heritage Association.
A devout Orthodox Christian, he was a member of Holy Apostles Mission Parish in Kenmore and St. Raphael Church in Palm Springs, CA. He was also a member of St. Demetrios, where he served two three-year terms on the of parish council. He served a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the All Saints Center on Raft Island.
Our Most Worshipful Brother stood among that select circle of men who have achieved distinction by merit alone and whose rise to eminence was unmarred by pride and whose life was been marked by selfless service. Beloved and respected, a tireless worker in support of any activity whose aim is the relief of suffering or the extension of learning. Grand Master George Jurgich was one to whom the distressed turned with every expectation that their cause would be heard and their situation addressed, and their trust was well founded.
Most Worshipful Brother George SimovichJurgich was called from labor on March 13, 2002.