Seattle Press on Line - Finding Peace in the Center of the Universe

Kirby's Fremont

Kirby's Fremont

Finding Peace in the Center of the Universe

By Kirby Lindsay

Jack Harvey

May 18, 2000 -- Peaceful is not the first or even second adjective I would use to describe Fremont. In fact, it probably wouldn't make my top ten. However, there is one spot here always taken for granted as quiet, peaceful and calm. The lush green lawn, lovely, bright flowers, and trees towering over pedestrians and shading the quiet, unostentatious house sitting back from the sidewalk stands alongside one of our major arterials, 36th Street.

At the turn of the last century, the house and grounds were part of a grand estate that covered a large portion of the neighborhood. Slowly the land was parceled out. In 1928, the residence and yard were purchased by George Fisher and Milton Kalfus to house their new funeral home. In 1946 two men from Tacoma, George Hoffner and Grant Putnam, purchased the business. Putnam, an active Fremonster belonging to the local Masonic Lodge, eventually sold out his part of the concern only to buy into another located one block west. Clark Rafferty Putnam was once located where the store Deluxe Junk now resides. Eventually it became Acacia and relocated north of Seattle. In those hey-days, we had three funeral homes. The third was Bleitz, which still operates southwest of the Fremont Bridge although it is now under corporate ownership.

In 1953, Jack Harvey went to work for his friend George Hoffner at what was called Hoffner's Fisher-Kalfus. In 1968, he bought in as a partner. Recently Jack's son Tom Harvey decided to buy out Hoffner's partnership and work with his father, continuing the tradition and standard of excellence Hoffner Fisher and Harvey Funeral Home is known for.

Many people who stroll by, enjoying the unhurried peace of the grounds, are oblivious to the discreet sign identifying the business, and the people behind one of the oldest businesses in our neighborhood. I'd like to take a moment and introduce them.

Jack Harvey began his career at a funeral home in San Francisco in 1945. While he tried other jobs, he liked this work-and he's good at it. His manner, calm and reassuring, works well when helping people facing tragedy. Tom praised Jack's supremely agile skill at making friends, and friends of friends. In the 1990s, it was referred to as networking but for Jack it isn't a new fad but an old-fashioned manner. He recalls the time when your lawyer was a friend, or a friend of a friend-and therefore a friend by relationship.

Working in Fremont, Jack advised his six children to "seek out your own lives," and they did. Tom, who drove the limousine and did gardening for extra money while in school, tried a variety of other career paths. Eventually he came to realize the gratification and necessity of the work done at Hoffner Fisher and Harvey. "I think there is some kind of satisfaction helping people through these things," he explained, taking pride in the level of trust built in the business over the years.

Hoffner Fisher and Harvey is now one of few family-owned funeral homes in the Northwest. Corporations buy up familiar establishments and keep the names which customers are used to associating with flawless reputations. Hoffner Fisher and Harvey, as a full service, traditional funeral home, still deserves their reputation for providing compassionate, quality direction.

I was surprised to find most people know exactly what they want when they step into this comfortable, and comforting, residence in Fremont. Jack suggested people follow traditions, especially at difficult times, and even with only eight to ten percent of the population church-affiliated, most know what their loved ones expected.

It is challenging work. The most important feature of their industry, Tom pointed out, is always being available and supportive no matter the hour. Jack admitted how taxing it can be on his friends and family to drop everything when the phone rings. People, facing a tragedy, lose all concept of time. As a result, this is a 24-hour operation requiring father and son to continually adjust and re-adjust their schedules on a moment's notice.

Working at a funeral home isn't the most glamorous work. Jack and Tom respond to vulnerable people in need of calm, quiet understanding. Perhaps that is why the grounds, even for someone walking by, exude an unhurried and peaceful air. I know the important ritual being tended within this stately old building and I am grateful that the owners have always seen fit to share some of the comfort inside with those of us outside who might not need it quite as much but can use it all the same.

Kirby Lindsay's parents lived and answered phones at night at Clark Rafferty Putnam. If you have questions about Fremont, you may write to her c/o The Seattle Press or e-mail to fremont@oz.net.

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