<::taps::> Isaac A. Ovadia, Shriners D&BC (Seattle)
Catherine
Part of Seattle's historic landscape -- jeweler, artist dies at 91. Isaac (Ike) A.
Ovadia, a Seattle native, exhibited artist and prominent jeweler for more than 53
years, who owned and operated Allen's Fifth Avenue Jewelers in downtown Seattle, died
Fri., Dec. 31 at the age of 91. He died suddenly at his winter residence in Palm
Springs, Calif., with his wife of 66 years, Mary, at his side.
Mr. Ovadia was born Nov. 1, 1913 at the home of his parents, Albert and Rosa Ovadia.
He was the second of six children and the longest surviving sibling in his immediate
family.
He graduated from Garfield High School in 1932 and the University of Washington in
1937. At age 10, he began working. He was a pharmacy delivery boy, sold flowers,
and eventually acquired a newspaper stand. In high school, Mr. Ovadia began working
at his father's fish stall in the Pike Place Market, where he worked through college.
Mr. Ovadia was an exhibited painter who started his study and love for art at 12
years old, setting aside a portion of his earnings to pay for art classes at the
Cornish College of the Arts. Many people were impressed by his talent and
commissioned paintings, including his children and grandchildren who coveted the many
wonderful jewelry designs, paintings and sketches he created.
In what he described as "the most important event in my life," Mr. Ovadia met his
future wife, Mary Sedis, in his high school typing class. They went steady for the
next six years and were married in 1938. During their 66-year marriage, they shared
a passion for life, travel, cooking, golf, fishing, sporting events, the arts, and
most of all, family. Mr. Ovadia was a gemologist whose life-long dream came true when
he opened Allen's Fifth Avenue Jewelers. Together, he and his wife Mary owned and
operated Allen's for 21 years. Mr. Ovadia traveled to buy the store's gems and
designed much of the boutique's jewelry himself. Mary managed the accounting and
created Allen's signature window displays. Mr. Ovadia always said that "he loved to
make people happy" with his work, which he did time and again, enriching the lives of
his customers, friends and family.
He was active in Garfield high school's team sports and was a member of his college
ROTC program. He was a member of the Society of Masons, the Scottish Rite and the
Shriners, all known for their community service activities. A lifelong member of the
Scottish Rite, he advanced to the office of the Master of Kadosh. As a member of the
Shriners, he enjoyed playing in the drum and bugle corps.
Mr. Ovadia was a member of the Congregation Ezra Bessaroth, Glendale Country Club and
the Palm Springs Artists' Council. A hard-working and compassionate member of the
Greater Seattle and Sephardic Jewish communities, he was a devoted family man.
He is survived by his wife Mary and his two daughters Rosemary Ovadia and Shirley
Barer and her husband John Hocknell, and his son Albert Ovadia and his wife Virginia.
He is also survived by his grandchildren Blake Goldberg and his wife Nicole, Jamie
Goldberg-Bowers and her husband David Bowers, Paul Goldberg and his wife Leisa, Leigh
Hunt and her husband Jonathan, Alexandra Ovadia and Ryan Ovadia and five great
grandchildren.
A Funeral Service will be held at Noon, Thurs, Jan 6 at Evergreen-Washelli
Cemeteries, 11220 Aurora Ave N, Seattle. There will be a Graveside Service
immediately following at the Seattle Sephardic Brotherhood Cemetery, 1230 N. 167th
Street, Shoreline.
Remembrances may be made to the Congregation Ezra Bessaroth or to the Caroline Kline
Galland Home.
Published in print on 1/4/2005.