Crescent Bar resident Dick Shabro dies during vacation

Richard "Dick" Douglas Shabro, a resident of Crescent Bar since 1987, died on April 13, 2011 while vacationing with his family in the Florida Keys.

Dick Shabro was born in Seattle on August 30, 1939 to Joe and Pearl (Reed) Shabro. They preceded him in death.

Dick and his wife Jan purchased their lease agreement in the Crescent Bar Condos in 1987. They had visited the island resort a number of times as one of Jan's perks as the office manager for Orthodontist Bill Gerla of Kent.

Gerla often brought his staff to Crescent Bar for a company retreat. He and his wife, Melany, eventually bought a home on the river.

"From the beginning, we loved Crescent Bar because of its sunshine, unique cliffs and accessibility from the west side," Jan said.

June has been the Shabro family month at Crescent Bar. It will continue to be so, Jan said. She will be here around the first of the month. She said it will be a good time to remember Dick in life.

Dick was a person of accomplishment. The Franklin High School and University of Washington graduate was an Eagle Scout as a boy and a member of the U.S. Navy Seal Team at Coronado, Calif. as a young man.

Dick was on the Navy dive team that retrieved Astronaut Scott Carpenter's space capsule, Mercury Delt 7, in 1962. 

Dick was the varsity swim coach for the Washington Athletic Club and one of three coaches for the 1968 U.S Olympic men's team at Mexico City. He was employed by the Federal Way School District as a physical education teacher and swim coach.

Other endeavors included: Emergency Medical Technician-trained safety supervisor for Crosby & Overton, Inc; Hazardous materials supervisor for Olympus Environmental Inc; and Social Security Representative and security for the Washington State Senate.

Dick was a 25-year member of the Ski Patrol, a 20-year volunteer for the American Red Cross, a certified NAUI and PADI scuba instructor, a member of Creator Lutheran Church and a tireless worker on is wife's campaigns for elective political office.

Dick's passions matched his actions. He skied the Austrian Alps, flew his own sea plane, dove Cozumel's Palancar Reef, toured Europe, ran the Sound to Narrows, biked the Seattle to Portland, fished for salmon and halibut in Alaska and marlin in Mexico, grew grapes, made wine and enjoyed all types of plants and flowers.

Dick is survived by his wife, Jan Shabro; his sons, Joe and Scott Shabro; two step-children, Cindy Blix and Jim Dyer; two grandsons,  Richard Blix and Michael Catalano.

"They will miss their grandpa's jokes, teasing and great stories," Jan said.

There will be a memorial service in Dick's honor at the Mountain View Lutheran Church tomorrow, May 21, 2011, at 11 a.m. The address is 3505 122nd Ave. E. Edgewood, WA. The phone number is 253-284-4433.

Donations are suggested, to: American Red Cross; American Heart Association; Creator Lutheran Foundation Fund, contact: Kim Latterell, 253-862-7700; and Mt. Rainier High School, contact: Dan Stoehr,