Matthew J. Randish
Published June 28, 2004
Matthew John Randish, 83, died peacefully June 28 at his home in Kirkland.
He was born Dec. 20, 1920, in Seattle, to Matthew and Vinka Randish, and was raised with two brothers and two sisters in the Ballard neighborhood.
His parents, who had immigrated from Yugoslavia and started with very little, were successful grocery retailers and had their own markets, Randish Grocery.
Matthew went to school in Ballard for grade school and graduated from Edmonds High School.
After high school, he started working for his father in their store on Queen Anne. He then joined the service to enter World War II in the medical corps.
After basic training, he was sent to Korea, and was in the first landing party. He later served in Okinawa, Japan.
After the service, he went to Seattle University, then started work in the grocery industry and managed for Safeway and then Big Bear stores, which later became Lucky food stores. He managed many Lucky store openings.
He then went to work for the IGA warehouse in Bellevue, later American Strivell grocery. He was the designer for a new store development for independent grocery store owners. Stores he set up included the first three IGA stores in Kitsap County.
When he set up the Madrona IGA on East Union in Seattle, he liked the store so much he bought it himself and ran it successfully for 20 years. He retired from the store in 1982, then helped his sons in their businesses.
He was an avid card player, from poker to bridge. He was a life member of the College Club of Seattle and a great dancer who loved to boat. Cars, familiy and traveling were his favorites, and he loved his children and grandchildren.
He is surived by his wife Margaret of Kirkland, to whom he was married for more than 50 years; daughter Joan of Bellevue and Matthew of Bainbridge Island; and grandchildren Jennifer and Christopher.
Funeral services were July 2 at Holy Family Church in Kirkland, with burial at Sunset Hills Cemetery. Arrangements were by the Colonial Chapel, Green Funeral Home of Kirkland.