Frederick (Fred) Losornio

Frederick (Fred) Losornio

January 26, 1920 to February 25, 2014

Fred Losornio passed away while being attended to by his daughter Michelle Harvey at Vashon Community Care on the morning of February 25. Born in Manhattan, Kansas, Fred had four distinct life experiences: his youth, his working career, his retirement and his final years.

As a child, Fred lived with his father, Jesus, in Mexico City where he became proficient in speaking Spanish, a talent he would use the rest of his life. He returned to the United States to live with his mother in Pawhuska, Oklahoma and his four younger siblings. After high school, he studied horticulture at the University of Oklahoma, where he met his future bride,

Patricia Lautaret. He enlisted in the Army

after World War II began. He survived the Normandy Invasion and subsequently was awarded the Bronze Star for heroic actions while fighting in Germany. A humble man, who hated war, he rarely shared the details of his heroism.

After the war, he married Patricia (Pat) and employed some of the skills he learned at OU to start a successful nursery that produced both edible and ornamental plants. Soon after his son Michael was born in 1952, he and Pat relocated to California and he lost touch with his siblings and mother. There he began a successful landscaping business. His daughter Michelle was born in late 1953 and the family traveled extensively throughout Southern California creating beautiful landscapes for families in Pasadena, La Canada, Bonsall and Vista, while propagating and selling bamboo, and growing oranges and strawberries sweeter than candy. A lover of nature, he was an environmental and animal-rights activist long before it was fashionable. Leaving before dawn and returning late and exhausted, he worked continuously until Pat passed from cancer in 1999.

His daughter, Michelle, helped heal his broken body and convinced him to finally retire and move to Vashon. After more that 45 years of separation, Michelle helped Fred reconnect with three of his surviving siblings, including his younger brother Felix, who shared the same birthday day, and had retired just down the road in Arlington.

At 80, Fred was reluctant to join the Vashon Senior Center, because the people there were too old. However, after regular trips to weekly Bingo, he discovered a vast population of new friends. He soon was participating in the frequent potlucks where he served potato pizzas long before any restaurants had discovered the treat. A good card player when he used to visit the Nevada casinos, Fred became quite the “shark” at a favorite Senior Center game – Hand and Foot. A classical, gentleman, who was happy to serve all the ladies, he often delivered roses and strawberries from his beautiful home garden. While there were too many to name them all, he was especially close to former Spanish teacher, Helen Pierce, who helped keep his Spanish speaking from getting too rusty, Francis Eikenberry and his best friend, Luella Lodahl. Not ready to truly retire, he continued to work and ultimately supervised a revision of the landscaping in front of the senior center.

With his second stroke, he lost his independence and moved to the Community Care Center. However, he did not lose his zest for life, his sense of humor or his happy demeanor. He discovered a whole new set of friends and caregivers who loved him too. He especially enjoyed the “men’s club” and Ken VanFleet. He resumed regular Bingo playing at VCC and enjoyed trying to beat his family each week at cards, and an occasional poker game when his grandson, Stephen visited. Despite his increasing pain, he insisted he was okay all the way to the end.

He is survived by his daughter, Michelle Harvey, and son-in-law Scott of Vashon, son Michael Losornio and partner Jerry Hubbard of Ollala, grandson, Stephen from Shoreline and the one best friend who was devoted to him and followed him from the Senior Center to VCC, Luella Lodahl.

The date for a gathering to celebrate Fred’s life will be announced later. In lieu of flowers, donations to either VIPP or the Senior Center would be appreciated.

Paid Obituary.