PORT HADLOCK — The founder of Hadlock Building Supply died one year ago, but his community spirit lives on at the business he owned and operated for 24 years.
James “Joe” Lovato died on Sept. 2, 2008, at the age of 75. The present owners of the Port Hadlock hardware store celebrated his birthday on Aug. 28 by donating 10 percent of their profits on the day to the Chimacum School’s Education Foundation.
“Joe was active in lot of things in this community,” said Bill Kraut, general manager of the store and son-in-law of Lovato.
“But we had to choose one thing to give to, as a way to remember him, and we decided on the Chimacum schools, which he was very involved in.”
Lovato served on the board of the education foundation up until the time of his death last year.
High school library
Karen Newman, also on the board which helps raise money for the schools, said the gift of $729 could go to help many things, but “he always wanted our focus to be on the high school library,” she said.
“The Lovato Memorial Fund will focus on that first. This is just a wonderful gift.”
Kraut said he expected the gift to be an annual event, remembering Lovato’s birthday.
Lovato, who was born Aug. 28, 1934, was a partner with Morris James at Hadlock Building Supply for more than 20 years.
The two began with five employees and grew to 50, with expanded business locations on both sides of Ness Corner Road.
At the time of Lovato’s death, James said that he and his partner were proud of the fact that they also provided their employees with health care benefits and paid vacations and holidays.
“It was a great partnership, and Joe was a great friend,” James said.
Family and employees alike remember Lovato as a man who freely and openly gave to the community from organizations such as the school to the local Scouts and baseball teams.
Cassandra Arey-Rogers, executive assistant at Hadlock Building Supply, said that beyond the giving, the store and the community misses Lovato as a person.
“We saw him almost every day,” she said.
“He was a great guy, and this is a nice way to honor him, honor his memory and help the community.
“This is a family-run business and in a lot of ways, yeah, we are all like a family here.
“He is greatly missed.”
As Kraut handed the check to Newman he found himself stepping in the same direction of community service when Newman asked him if he might be interested in joining the board.
“Yeah, I might be,” Kraut said, smiling.
“I think that’s something I would be really interested in helping out with.”
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Reporter Erik Hidle can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at erik.hidle@peninsuladailynews.com.
