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Paul John Valcich
08/29/1946 — 06/11/2005
From West, Richland, WA, US | Born in Elizabeth, New Jersey
Paul John Valcich
PAUL JOHN VALCICH, age 58, passed peacefully at Kadlec Hospital on June 11th, 2005. Paul was born August 29, 1946, in Elizabeth, New Jersey to Blanche and Peter Valcich. His family moved to Southern California in his early years.
Paul graduated from Don Bosco Technical High School in San Gabriel, CA. He enlisted in the US Navy - he was a ''Seabeee'' with a ''Can Do'' attitude. He served two tours of Vietnam in 1969 and 1970. That was followed with duty in Japan, brief duty stateside, then McMurdo Station, Antarctica in 1972/73 to work on the construction of the world's largest natural pier made from ice blocks and packed with snow for coast guard ships to drop supplies. It was following that duty that he met his future wife, Maggie, while on R&R in New Zealand. They were married in 1974 and recently celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.
In 1974, Paul was accepted into the Navy NESEP program. He attended and graduated from the University of Colorado, Boulder, in 1978 with a degree in mechanical engineering.
He moved to West Richland in 1980 and was a 25-year resident. He worked for Rockwell, Westinghouse, and the US Department of Energy.
Paul loved the outdoors. His greatest joy was gardening and landscaping. He enjoyed fishing and hunting, but most of all he was looking forward to some day retiring in Montana.
He belonged to the Tri-Cities Chapter of Disabled American Veterans.
His wife Maggie, son Stefan, and brother Tom survive him. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 14, 2005, at Einans Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from noon to 2:00 p.m. Tuesday.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 7325 W. Deschutes Ave, Ste A, Kennewick, WA 99336 or the American Diabetes Association, P O Box 375, Richland, WA 99352.
Paul was one of my first mentors during my career and was a tremendous person. To have a senior engineer with the social mentality and the fondness for locker room humor of a Generation X guy was awfully fun to be around. Paul had a great desire to do the right things for the right reasons, whether it was at work or in his personal life, and he taught me a great deal about things about Hanford and life in general. When he learned of his cancer, he did not seem to change his mental outlook, wanting to make a difference until the end, and staying positive. My last visit with him was no different than the several hundred I had before, complete with crude banter going both ways, and this is great way to remember him. In closing, something that he wolud laugh about. He especially enjoyed zinging me in the presence of my wife. I saw him at Winco a few months ago at Winco and commented on his gray goatee and slouched posture as he walked. Without missing a beat, he turned about and launched a profanity-laced bomb directed at my allegedly-growing belly and choice of clothing that made Maggie gasp in horror and my wife laugh hysterically. May the laughter continue…
Maggie,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I saw Paul at the end of December. After explaining his disease, his last words to me were, “It’s just what the Good Lord has planned for me.”
I’ll miss you, Paul.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family of such a special man.
I have known Paul for several years, and worked with him occasionally. Although we didn’t work together often, we always enjoyed the times we did. I was in safety, and Paul was in the program. I received an RL Thank You award of a nice can opener from Paul about a year ago. Paul’s note said the award was because he always enjoyed working with me, and he said he chose the can opener because of the cans of worms I have to deal with. Typical Paul. I will miss him.
Maggie,
I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Stefan,
I’m so sorry to here about your loss. I know we haven’t talked for years but I wanted you to know that you and your family are in my prayers. If you ever need someone to talk I’ll always be here.
I first met Paul during our collective assignments with Hanford projects on the Central Plateau. While I did not know Paul for very long, my experiences with him were nothing but professional and positive. Paul loved to work in the field and make things happen. I grew to respect his devotion to the job and looked forward to our impromptu meetings where we would discuss progress on his projects. Paul loved life, loved his work, and boy did he have a great sense of humor! I will personally miss him a great deal. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and dedicated co-workers.
My thoughts go out to the family.
I was saddened to learn of Paul’s death. I worked with him on several occasions and always found him to be personable and professional. I also worked with his wife Maggie when I was assigned to WRAP. I enjoyed working with her as well. Paul’s family is in my thoughts and prayers in this time of grief.
Ron Higgins
Paul was one of my first mentors during my career and was a tremendous person. To have a senior engineer with the social mentality and the fondness for locker room humor of a Generation X guy was awfully fun to be around. Paul had a great desire to do the right things for the right reasons, whether it was at work or in his personal life, and he taught me a great deal about things about Hanford and life in general. When he learned of his cancer, he did not seem to change his mental outlook, wanting to make a difference until the end, and staying positive. My last visit with him was no different than the several hundred I had before, complete with crude banter going both ways, and this is great way to remember him. In closing, something that he wolud laugh about. He especially enjoyed zinging me in the presence of my wife. I saw him at Winco a few months ago at Winco and commented on his gray goatee and slouched posture as he walked. Without missing a beat, he turned about and launched a profanity-laced bomb directed at my allegedly-growing belly and choice of clothing that made Maggie gasp in horror and my wife laugh hysterically. May the laughter continue…
Maggie,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
I saw Paul at the end of December. After explaining his disease, his last words to me were, “It’s just what the Good Lord has planned for me.”
I’ll miss you, Paul.
My deepest sympathy goes out to the family of such a special man.
I have known Paul for several years, and worked with him occasionally. Although we didn’t work together often, we always enjoyed the times we did. I was in safety, and Paul was in the program. I received an RL Thank You award of a nice can opener from Paul about a year ago. Paul’s note said the award was because he always enjoyed working with me, and he said he chose the can opener because of the cans of worms I have to deal with. Typical Paul. I will miss him.
Maggie,
I am so sorry for the loss of your husband. Please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.
Stefan,
I’m so sorry to here about your loss. I know we haven’t talked for years but I wanted you to know that you and your family are in my prayers. If you ever need someone to talk I’ll always be here.
I first met Paul during our collective assignments with Hanford projects on the Central Plateau. While I did not know Paul for very long, my experiences with him were nothing but professional and positive. Paul loved to work in the field and make things happen. I grew to respect his devotion to the job and looked forward to our impromptu meetings where we would discuss progress on his projects. Paul loved life, loved his work, and boy did he have a great sense of humor! I will personally miss him a great deal. My thoughts and prayers are with his family and dedicated co-workers.
My thoughts go out to the family.
I was saddened to learn of Paul’s death. I worked with him on several occasions and always found him to be personable and professional. I also worked with his wife Maggie when I was assigned to WRAP. I enjoyed working with her as well. Paul’s family is in my thoughts and prayers in this time of grief.
Ron Higgins
My deepest symapthies go to you, Maggie. If you need anything let me know.
Nancy
Maggie and Stefan…so sorry to hear about Paul dad. Wish someone would have let me or his son Michael know about this. Nice of you to include that Paul had a daughter and son that he adopted in 1978 in the state of Florida. Well best wishes for the both of you. Good luck in life. Lisa Valcich Rogers
Maggie & Stefan,
My deepest sympathie for your family,you’ll be in my prayers.
To Paul and Maggie,
We are still in the same house you helped us find when we moved from Montana in 1986. It was a good move because we’re still doing home improvements. I also enjoyed working with Paul throughout our careers. Our maintenance engineering group was filled with great folks like Paul. Now I understand why he wanted me to give George Jackson grief.
Pat and Karen Stanley
From all of Paul’s shipmates at McMurdo in 73, our deepest sympathy and condolances.
G.W. “Gerry” Davis, EQCM, SCW, USN Ret. Winter Over ’73 and ’80
Paul was a terrific colleague and office mate. My deepest condolensces go to his wife, son, brother, and other family members. He will be missed.
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Paul John Valcich