Anton Mardesich

Anton Mardesich is considered the father of the Everett commercial fishing industry. Born February 22, 1879, Old Tony left his hometown of Komiza on the Dalmatian Coat at the age of 17. He arrived in this country at Ellis Island and then rode the rails across the country to Puget Sound. Arriving in Everett in 1898, he was the first of the many Slavs who settled there and became involved in fishing. Tony spent much time on the waterfront working in the mills, canneries, and fish markets. He witnessed the salmon fishing industry progress from small boats with sails and oars in local waters to diesel powered boats, including 75-foot vessels that went to Alaska. For years, his purse seiner, the Tatoosh, renamed the Dorothy Joan by his sons, was one that made the annual trek to Alaska. He was a member of Everett Elks Lodge and the Yugoslav-American Citizens’ Club of Everett. He and his wife, Jelica or Helen (Marincovich), had four daughters and two sons: Winnie (Mrs. Tony Martinis), Barbara (Mrs. Henry Weborg), Dorothy (Mrs. Don Dawson), Helen (Mrs. Warren Phillips), John, and Pete. After Jelica died, Tony married Lillian. Tony died March 14, 1941. His funeral was at Immaculate Conception Church. He was only 62 when he died but was spared living through the death of both of his sons, who perished on the Dorothy Joan a little more than four years later.