2009 Distinguished Graduate Awards

Jim Farris (HRS Elementary 1944) and Dolly Hass (HRS Elementary 136 and HS 1940) each received a Distinguished Graduate award at a ceremony on Sunday, January 25.  These annual awards are given to school alumni whose personal and professional lives reflect the values and ideals of a Catholic education. Both are longtime members of Holy Rosary Parish and were surprised, pleased, and extremely honored by being singled out for the reception of the award. They both have been fortunate to give a life’s service to the parish and community and feel that contribution carried its own reward. Being singled out for this special recognition was most gratifying.

Jim Farris has been a continuous parishioner of Holy Rosary since moving from Sacred Heart School in Spokane at the beginning of World War II. Upon completion of the eighth grade at Holy Rosary he spent four years at O’ Dea High School graduating in 1948. He then went on to Seattle University where he obtained a degree in Education. Teaching was temporarily delayed by two years of military service with the U.S. Army in Korea. Upon completion of military duty he received a contract with Seattle Schools, teaching fourth and fifth grades at High Point School in West Seattle while, at the same time, doing graduate work at Seattle University. Additional teaching experience in the sixth grade and elementary library work was obtained at Whitworth school while simultaneously teaching English to immigrant at Broadway Edison School.

In 1960 he was made Vice Principal of High Point School followed three years later as Principal of Fauntleroy School. His career ended upon retirement after a long stint in the Seattle School District’s Administration with a focus on educational planning, new building construction, desegregation, and school closures.

He married Marry Ellen (Bergmann) Farris, a fellow Seattle University student and teacher in 1955. They had five children: Kathleen, Theresa, Rosemary, Cecilia, and Jim. All of whom graduated from Holy Rosary School, Kennedy, and O’ Dea. There are thirteen grandchildren. One of whom recently graduated from Seattle University.

The two of them, until her death in 2004, constantly were involved in parish life. He began that service as an alter boy for Father Lanigan, later he sang in the choir, ushered for Mass, taught high school Religion classes for many years, lectored at Mass, and organized the Lector program for numerous years. After Vatican II, there was service on the parish council during its development years. Jim also was on the Holy Rosary School Board for a number of years and served a term on the Archdiocesan School Board. When the children were teenagers they, with their parents, operated the Sunday baby sitting program for the parish. In 1986, Mary Ellen began the soup kitchen that is still a part of the parish outreach program and Jim assisted with the work. He continues the delivery of soup to downtown shelters.

Dolly Hass (HRS Elementary 1936 and HS 1940) and Jim Farris (HRS Elementary 1944) each received a distinguished Graduate Award at a ceremony on Sunday January 25. 2009. These annual awards are given to school alumni whose personal and professional lives reflect the values and ideals of a Catholic education. Both are long time members of Holy Rosary Parish and were surprised, pleased, and extremely honored by being singled out for this award. They both have been involved in the Parish and community. Both have expressed the joy in being awarded this special recognition.

Dolly Hass (Maxine) is a life long parishioner of Holy Rosary. She is the youngest of eight siblings born to James and Bridget Davis who were among the earliest parishioners of Holy Rosary in 1909 when the parish began. All of the Davis children attended Holy Rosary School. They rode the trolley from their home on Harbor Avenue to school. There were so many the conductor made a special carstop for them naming it, “Davis Place”.

Dolly has many fond memories of the years spent at Holy Rosary School. Her mother baked 20 loaves of bread a week and canned preserves which she and her older sister took to the Nuns in the old wooden convent on Genessee Street. Her teachers, the Nuns, are remembered with gratitude. One, Sister Victorine, is currently at Mt. St Vincent’s. Special experiences at school include the May Day celebrations at St. Edward Seminary with the whole school in attendance. Then there was the May procession in the old Church. (The school auditorium) She attended Mass daily before school. Those were the days when Catholics fasted from midnight before receiving communion. The Nuns provided coco and rolls on some occasions after Mass.

The uniform at the time was a blue serge dress with white collars and cuffs. Hers was always well starched. Boys wore blue pants and white shirts. They were continuously raising money for the new church. She remembers selling squares on crosses for five cents apiece filling a whole cross on a card for two dollars. This activity and others paid for the cross atop the church tower. The High School classes were on the top floor of the school. She remembers hanging out the windows watching the workmen construct the current Holy Rosary Church.

Dolly married Donald Hass who played trombone with the big bands of the 1940’s and then became a City Firefighter working out of the West Seattle Station at 42nd and Alaska. Their daughter, Dr. Donna Hass Swagers attended Holy Rosary Elementary (51) and High School (62), receiving her Doctorate at Seattle University.

The Mothers Club was among Dolly’s many activities in the Parish for the years her daughter was in school. In addition she was the parish leader of the award winning Holy Rosary CYO for nine years. She has She worked as a Para Legal in the same West Seattle office for 42 years often helping the parish and Priests when assistance was requested.

Dolly has been a strong supporter of Holy Rosary all her life. She is always at the last Mass every Sunday in the third row on the left side under the stained glass window to which she contributed. She says, “My heart is in Holy Rosary ”.

2008 Distinguished Graduate Awards 

Mrs. Jan Ittes (HRS Elementary 1966) and Mrs. Marie Miller (HRS Elementary 1943) each received a Distinguished Graduate Award on Sunday, January 27, 2008. Presented by the National Catholic Educational Association, the annual awards are given to Catholic school alumni whose personal and professional lives reflect the values and ideals of a Catholic education.

Ms. Jan Ittes

Chairperson and CEO of Atlas Supply, Inc., Jan Ittes remains an active volunteer at Holy Rosary. She chaired Holy Rosary’s Endowment Fund, which has grown to over $1 million in scholarship assistance. She served on the parish and school’s Capital Campaign Committee, and is currently an extraordinary minister of the Eucharist and a member of the Renovation Committee for the former convent building. All three of her children graduated from Holy Rosary and Catholic high schools.

 
Mrs. Marie Miller

Owner and co-founder of the popular Husky Deli, Marie Miller and her husband have sacrificed to send all nine of their children through Holy Rosary School and on to Catholic high schools. One is now a priest and another returned to teach at Holy Rosary School. Miller has remained active in the parish and school and has served on many commissions. Today, many of her grandchildren attend the school.