Charles Peter Curran

Charles Peter “Pete” Curran passed away suddenly at the age of 81 on May 11, 2014, in an accident.  Pete lived in Kent, Washington for 53 years.  He was born in Spokane, Washington on January 20, 1933 to Frank Colum and Helen Virginia Curran, the last of 9 children. 

Growing up in Spokane during the Depression, Pete lived on his family farm at Morgan Acres, and attended St. Patrick’s Grammar School in Hillyard. During these years, Pete made close friendships with several young boys from the Hillyard neighborhood and these friends remained intensely loyal to Pete for the remainder of his life. They called themselves the “Hillyard Burglars”.

 After graduating from Gonzaga Prep high school, Pete attended Gonzaga University, and the University of Washington. Following a stint in the Army, he graduated from UW with a B.A. in history and, later, a law degree (1960). He began practicing law with his brother Jim. To this day, the Curran Law Firm is a respected South King County firm.

In 1953, while attending UW, Pete met an attractive young coed named Patricia Phillips at a dorm dance, and before the evening was over they were at an ice cream parlor on University Ave falling in love. In 1955 “Pete and Pat” were married and children followed shortly thereafter – eight of them. Pete and Pat were married 55 years until Pat succumbed to cancer in 2011, Pete missed her greatly.

A lover of nicknames, mole hunting, A Prairie Home Companion, and cooking Mediterranean food, Pete was a playful dad. He valued family and friends, created the first of many Curran Family reunions, St. Paddy’s Day tailgaters, and loved to engage everyone he met with one of his many tall tales. He believed both his sons and daughters could go anywhere and he was one of the first girls’ soccer coaches in Kent.

Pete loved adventure traveling to places all over the world including Europe, Cuba, India, Vietnam, Egypt, Mexico, and Turkey. In 1979, Pete took a three month sabbatical from his law practice, and Pete and Pat took 7 of their young children on a five nation journey through Europe, planting the seed of travel adventure in his children and grandchildren.

Pete and Pat served the needy of all beliefs through St. Vincent De Paul, and Holy Spirit Catholic Church and were active philanthropists in many other charitable and arts organizations. 

Passionate about jazz, blue grass and folk music, Pete sought out music from the jazz clubs of Tacoma to the New Orleans’s Jazz Festival and Vancouver Folk Fest.

Pete was a lifelong handball player, and in his 70’s, competed in a handball championship in Dublin, Ireland, and in his 80’s, still played handball twice a week.

Among other accomplishments, Pete spearheaded the construction of Valley General Hospital, worked as an advance man on Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign, and while he was in the Army, worked as an extra on the Audie Murphy movie “To Hell and Back.”

Pete will be greatly missed by his children, Keelin (Jack), Sheila (Henry), Marcy (Rod), Betsey (Jonathan), Brendan (Amy), Mary (Dean), and Megan (Eric). A beloved son, Colin, died in 1983.  He is also survived by 19 grandchildren, Claire, Paloma, Colum, Melanie, Mackenzie, Delaney, Kevin, Katya, Beau, Graham, Declan, Dylan, Marlena, Audrey, Camille, Althea, Augie, Otis and Olivia, a great grandchild, Stazzi James, and his brother and sister, Robert and Maureen.

A Vigil for Pete Curran will be held on May 21st at 7pm at Holy Spirit Church in Kent.  A Memorial Mass will be held on May 22nd at 10:30 am at Holy Spirit Church in Kent, followed by a luncheon reception.  The Curran Family encourages donations in lieu of flowers to Kent Youth and Family Services and Holy Spirit Church in Kent.