Tad Sato

Tad passed away peacefully on March 26, 2013. He was born in Portland, on May 9, 1922 to Kosaku Sato and Kimi Kawahara. He was preceded in death by his parents and wife of 59 years, Ruby Sato.

As a child, Tad and his father moved to Seattle from Portland where he attended Bailey Gatzert Elementary School, Central Middle School and graduated from Broadway High School on June 13,1940. They worked and lived in their second Hand store, Joe's Antiques, on Main Street in what was then known as "Japantown".

After high school, he went to work on the tie gang for the Great Northern Railroad which later became the Burlington Northern Railroad. He worked his way up through the company as a timekeeper, then as a joint facilities examiner, travelling throughout the system working in places such as Kalispell. MT , Klamath Falls, OR, Portland, OR, and Whitefish. MT making lifelong friendships along the way. He retired in 1981 from the railroad as the manager of the Seattle District Accounting Office.

Following his retirement from the railroad he opened up Jenny's Hallmark in south Everett with is daughter and wife. He had the shop for 13 years before retiring for good in 1996.

He is a past president and a dedicated member of the First Hill Lions Club.

He also participated in a Toastmaster International group made up of other railroad employees. And, he help found the Annual Great Northern Retirement Dinner that helped honor the retirees from the Cascade Northern Division from the 1950's to the 1970's

He is survived by his children: Marilyn (Sarah) Leverson, Jennifer and Mark Greenfield, and David Sato; his grandchildren: Lauren(Steven)Sato, Shawn Doyle, Stephen Sato, Caitlin Leverson, Megan Greenfield, and Nathan Leverson; and one great grandchild: Emi Grace Ellis.

He was a dedicated husband, father, grandfather , uncle, brother-in-law, and friend. He was lucky enough to have travelled the world cruising with

good friends. Tad had a contagious smile and fun sense of humor. He will

be greatly missed by everyone that had the pleasure of knowing him.