Joe Firey RIP

[num1mc]

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/seattletimes/obituary.aspx?n=joe-firey&pid=168993913

[Lowell_Skoog]

Here's the text of the short obit:

 

Joe Firey

 

1918 ~ December 2013

 

Survived by his three children, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. Professor of mechanical engineering at the UW until retirement. Holds over two dozen combustion process patents. Served WWII LTJG submarine tender in the Pacific. Avid climber from high school until nearly 80. Joe did many first ascents and new routes in the North Cascades and the B.C. Coast Ranges and was a ski mountaineering pioneer in same. In the 50s and 60s Joe and wife Joan Firey [d.1980] climbed and skied together on these trips. Inquiries: Carla Firey, jimcarla@q.com.

 

Published in The Seattle Times from Jan. 9 to Jan. 12, 2014

 

See the following link for my 2008 NWMJ profile of the Fireys:

 

http://www.mountaineers.org/nwmj/08/081_Firey1.html

 

[num1mc]

Carla's email address isn't working

[ivan]

wise sir do not grieve

it is always better to avenge dear ones

than to indulge in mourning

for every one of us living in this world

means waiting for our end

let he who can achieve glory before death

when a warrior is gone

that will be his best and only bulwark

[JasonG]

Certainly one of the old school greats, RIP Joe. I had the honor of meeting him a few years ago at a Bulger Party and got to talk with him about a few of his FAs, a remarkable man!

[wayne]

We are all standing on the shoulders of giants, Condolences to the friends and family.

[tvashtarkatena]

Thanks for showing us the way, Joe.

[marcus]

Lowell, thanks for linking to the great NWMJ article. Through your writing I enjoyed getting to know more about the Fireys and their place in the pantheon of NW climbing history.

 

Condolences to the Firey family and cheers to a life well lived.

[JasonG]

Yes, thanks Lowell. I went back and read your article again. Joe and Joan were even more remarkable than I remembered. So inspiring!