Paul and Nicolo Luvera and their Italian Grocery's Dodge, 1924.
Original Image
The original photo used as reference for the mural was photographed by Ferd Brady in 1932.
Paul Nicholas Luvera was born March 25, 1898 in Reggio Calabria, Italy. The child of Nicola Luvera and Fillippa Latella Luvera, Paul had two brothers and two sisters. The family emigrated to Coleman, Alberta in 1910, and then moved to Anacortes in 1918.
In 1922 Paul and his father opened Luvera’s Fruit Store at 7th and Commercial in Anacortes, which Paul and his wife operated Luvera’s Market until they retired in 1957. Then, Mr. Luvera started a second career as a wood carver. His totem poles are displayed throughout the United States and in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, Yokohama, Japan, and Stockholm, Sweden.
In 1953, Paul ran for a state senator seat and served for one term. He was instrumental in securing the construction of the highway between Sharpes Corner and Anacortes.
Mr. Luvera served as president of the Anacortes Merchants Association, the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce, the Skagit County Chamber of Commerce, the Anacortes Rotary Club and the Washington State Food Dealers Association. Also, he chaired numerous civic committees and various relief funds during the Depression including Skagit County Civil Defense, War Stamp and Bond Drive, Red Cross drives, Boy Scout Fund drive, Skagit County Surplus Food Committee, Sate Surplus Food Committee, United Good Neighbors, the Community Fund, the Mariners Pageant and the Fisherman’s Ball.
He also helped organize and chair the first parent-Teacher Association in Anacortes and he spearheaded the effort to get a community swimming pool. In 1987 he served as Grand Marshal of the Anacortes 96th Birthday Parade.
He was an Honorary Past Master of Fidalgo Lodge No. 77, a life member of the Anacortes Elks Lodge, a member of the Anacortes Chamber of Commerce since 1924, a member of Rotary International since 1929, and longtime member of the Nile Temple. In 1924 he joined the Fidalgo Masonic Lodge No. 77.
Mr. Luvera’s numerous awards included the Liberty Bell Award, the Paul Harris Fellow Award of Rotary International, and 1980’s Citizen of the Year award.
Paul and Mary T. Babarovich married in 1926, and they had three children, Phyllis, Anita, and Paul, Jr. and at the time of his passing had 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
Paul passed away on November 4, 1990 in Anacortes, Washington.
