2007 Distinguished St. Benedict School Alumnus

Joe Milanoski was born almost 91 years ago in Ballard. He was the son of Polish immigrants who were some of the original residents of Ballard. When Joe was 3 years old, his family moved to Wallingford. He had 9 brothers and sisters, some of whom also attended St. Benedict School. An older brother Albert even attended St. Benedict High School for one year. His sister Bertha attended 7th and 8th grade at St. Benedict and eventually became Sister Mary Claire, a member of the Dominican order of sisters who staffed St. Benedict School for many years.

Joe began his career at the age of five at St. Benedict School in 1922 when he joined the 1st grade class in mid-year. His 1st grade teacher was Sister Mary Frances and the pastor was Father Andrew Kunz, a Missionary Oblate of Mary Immaculate. Joe remembers many of his classmates and teachers during his time spent at St. Benedict School. Midway during his time as a student here, he remembers his teacher calling all of the students with the clap of her hands to form a line and meet the other students in the school yard. Sister then directed Joe and his classmates to walk across the school yard and into the brand new school building. Sister walked them into their new classroom and said that was going to be their new school room.

After graduating from St. Benedict in 1929, Joe went on to Seattle College High School as a freshman. He played football, studied classical languages and experienced another major change in his school when Seattle College High School became Seattle Prepatory School at the beginning of his senior year.

After graduating from Seattle Prep, Joe spent some time in the roofing business and in June of 1939, he married LaMay (Eva) Melton at Immaculate Conception in Seattle. He eventually found his way to the army where he became a Language Intelligence Officer. He became an expert in the Japanese language and worked on translating Japanese war documents. Joe feels his success in learning Japanese was aided by his study of Greek and Latin during high school. After the war was over, Joe assisted with the transition in Japan back to regular life. After the war, Joe and his family moved to Oak Harbor where he worked for a number of years before returning to Seattle.

Joe and LaMay have two children, David who lives in Korea and Paula who lives on Orcas Island, and 8 grandchildren. They will celebrate their 68th wedding anniversary this summer and have the distinction of being the married couple in our parish who has been married the longest.

Joe has certainly exhibited in his life the motto of St. Benedict “That in All Things May God be Glorified.” He is Good News for St. Benedict School and our parish.