Bert Martin McCabe (S.O.B. – ‘Sweet Old Bert’) passed away February 8th, 2010, the day after his 84th birthday. He slipped off the raft comfortably at home, surrounded by his wife and his four kids. He was a salty old fella – much loved by those who could handle his particular type of raunchy humor and his curmudgeonly disposition – with a quick wit and a heart of gold.

Scruffy Bert arrived in this world in the town of Pomeroy, in southeastern Washington, on February 7, 1926. He popped out at 12.5 pounds and, not surprisingly, his mother decided he would be the last of five children. Just the way he came into this world, he lived out his days seemingly bigger than life.

WWII arrived while he was in high school, and even with a dismal scholastic record Bert was, at 17 years of age (claiming to be 18), accepted in the Navy Air Corps. He looked dapper in his leather flight helmet, in an open cockpit bi-plane with a white scarf flapping over his shoulder, tied with a stylish knot beneath his chin. He looked good but did not fly good, so the Navy sent him off to spend the rest of the war in college at the University of California at Berkeley where he pledged Phi Delta Theta fraternity.

Upon graduation from UC Berkeley Bert accepted a commission as a reserve officer in the Navy – primarily because he loved the look of the blue uniform with all that gold trim. A very short time later the Korean War broke out and Bert was called on to active duty on an ugly ship off the Korean coast. He packed away his fancy new blue uniform, put on dreary khakis, and gained sea legs for the next few years.

Returning to a life post-war, Bert entered the business world in southern California where he held marketing positions with such corporations as Swift and Company, Paper Mate, Avery-Dennison, and several not-very-successful miniscule companies.

Upon retiring Bert made his way to Vashon Island where he spent for 5 terrific years with his then-teenaged kids. He eventually settled in La Conner, where he continued to embrace his love of sailing, skiing, Bombay Gin martinis, and where he revived his passion for watercolor painting within the area’s noteworthy arts community. Bert’s work was displayed in the world-renowned Tate Museum in London for almost twenty minutes before the security guards had it removed.

His final adventure was living with cancer. When diagnosed six years ago, Bert decided to chronicle his experience in a watercolor sketchbook, with the resulting journal packed with Bert’s offbeat humor and his joie de vive. Demand for copies of his sketchbook grew, compelling Bert to publish his final work last month. Laugh Away Cancer Blues is in print and available for purchase at www.lulu.com, with profits from book sales donated to fund cancer research.

Bert is survived by his wife (Mindy McCabe of La Conner); his four children and their spouses (Sean McCabe of Huntington Beach, CA; Pat & Lisa McCabe of Seattle; Maggi & Doug McClure of Vashon Island; Molly & Dan Black of Seattle); his stepson (Grant Olin of Orange, CA); his six grandchildren and countless nieces, nephews, friends, admirers and the occasional yahoo who just didn’t like him at all.

Memorials can be made to Skagit Valley Hospital’s Cancer Care Fund at lfrizzell@skagitvalleyhospital.org. We’ll miss you, Papa. Cheers to you on the next leg of your voyage.

(paid obituary)