A2 • Friday, August 26, 2022 | Seaside Signal | SeasideSignal.com
OBITUARIES
John George Chatalas
Portland
March 30, 1937 — July 27, 2022
Rev. John George Chatalas,
85, died peacefully in Portland
on July 27, surrounded by his
four children, Todd Chatalas, of
Portland, Paul Chatalas, of Chi-
cago, Elizabeth Chatalas Benoit,
of London, and Hannah Chatalas,
of Los Angeles. He was a loving
father, grandfather, brother, uncle
and friend, and provided immea-
surable comfort and guidance as
a member of the clergy.
John was a Seattle native who
was raised in, and will now return
to, Mount Baker for memorial
services. He was the eldest son
of Goldie Bates Chatalas and
Rep. William J. Chatalas (D-WA,
33rd, 35th districts).
He was a standout athlete
throughout his life as a football
player and all-city track star at
Franklin High School, graduating
in 1955, and continued to excel
in sports at Whitworth Univer-
sity, his alma mater, graduating in
1960. John was also a recognized
pole vaulter and lifelong passion-
ate golfer in a family of golfers.
One of John’s true loves was
Thoroughbred horse racing. He
was an attendant at Longacres
racetrack as a youth, and later
bred and raised Thoroughbreds
in Seaside. His passion for race
horses and some of the injuries
that befell them led to his inven-
tion of a portable ultrasound
bone density monitor, which
now forms the basis for technol-
ogy used in medical institutions
across the world.
His entrepreneurial streak also
led to the creation of business and
early advancement of business
lines, such as for long term care
insurance, for which he served as
an agent for years.
John’s true calling was to
Christ. He graduated from San
Francisco Theological Seminary
in California’s Bay Area. After
the seminary, he served as pas-
tor of Wedgwood Presbyterian
in Seattle, followed by Lidger-
wood Presbyterian Church in
Spokane. During his time in Spo-
kane, Washington, he established
the Nightwalk Ministry out-
reach program that was a model
for other on-the-ground ecumen-
ical nonprofi ts providing out-
Avenue B fi re displaces six
Fire deemed accidental
Seaside Signal
Seaside Fire and Rescue
An overnight fi re displaced six at this home on Avenue B in Seaside.
A fi re in a duplex at 1136 Ave-
nue B displaced six residents late
Aug. 16.
Police received the report
shortly after 9 p.m., Chief Joey
Daniels said. Police evacuated res-
idents prior to arrival and were
able to contain the fi re to one side
of the duplex.
Units remained on the scene
until 12:30 a.m. Six people on both
sides of the duplex received assis-
tance from the Red Cross.
The fi re was deemed accidental,
Daniels said.
John Chatalas
reach and services to at-risk and
unhoused people.
He then became pastor at Pio-
neer Presbyterian Church in War-
renton, the oldest continuous
Presbyterian church west of the
Rocky Mountains, and he contin-
ued as a member of the clergy for
decades. In all, John performed
thousands of sermons, weddings,
baptisms and funerals, and was
always available to listen and
provide counseling to countless
people in their most critical times
of need. His passion for doing
Christ’s work left an invaluable
impact on every community that
he served.
In addition to his four chil-
dren, his life will be remembered
by his many friends and fam-
ily including his brothers, Wil-
liam B. Chatalas and Robert B.
Chatalas; former spouses, Nancy
Olson-Chatalas and Kathryn Aya;
grandchildren, Wyatt Chatalas,
Devon Chatalas and Axelle Ben-
oit; nephews, Bret Chatalas and
Marc Chatalas; and niece, Court-
ney Chatalas Gerlich.
A celebration of life service
will be held at Mount Baker Park
Presbyterian Church in Seattle at
1 p.m. Sept. 16. Please share your
memories and fi nd service details
at: JohnChatalas.com
In lieu of fl owers, memorial
donations may be given to Oper-
ation Nightwatch Seattle or the
North Coast Land Conservancy.
Seaside Fire and Rescue
Rescue crews responded to victims pulled into the riptide.
Riptide: One fatality in weekend of rescues
Continued from Page A1
A man in his 50s was found
unconscious in the water and pro-
nounced dead after eff orts to revive
him were unsuccessful. A female
in her teens survived the incident.
A second water rescue took
place off Avenue U later in the
afternoon. Seaside lifeguards res-
cued two swimmers in distress at
the south end of Seaside’s beach
off Avenue U approximately two
hours after the Sixth Avenue
incident.
One of the rescued swimmers, a
27-year-old woman, told fi re per-
sonnel that they were in waist-deep
water one minute and struggling in
water over their heads the next.
On Sunday, shortly after 2 p.m.,
they responded to two rescue calls
at Third Avenue. At 2:30 p.m., a
police offi cer assisted in locating
missing children on the beach.
At
4:10 p.m.,
responders
received another call for water
rescue on the beach at Sixth Ave-
nue. Later, at 4:40 p.m., respond-
ers were called to Avenue G at the
beach. At 5:35 p.m. at the beach
and the Turnaround, rescuers
responded once more to a call for
water rescue.
Eleven staff members are
trained on the water rescue team,
Daniels said Monday. Of those, six
were available and helped over the
weekend. “We were dispatched to
the Cannon Beach call but were
canceled soon after because Can-
non Beach lifeguards and fi re
department had it handled and did
not need further assistance.”
Beachgoers should understand
even when the waves look small
the ocean is very powerful and has
many diff erent variables that can
get you in trouble, Daniels said. “If
people have questions they should
stop by the lifeguard tower or talk
to as they see them on the beach.
Also a reminder that when people
see our lights on our vehicles this
means a rescue is in progress and
exit the water and stay away from
responders so they have room to
work.”
Even with lifeguards on the
beach people need to always swim
in pairs or have someone keeping
an eye so someone can get help if
needed, he added.