Eugene T. Macellari

Retired International Organizer Eugene T. Macellari died May 14 in Seattle, Wash., after a battle with cancer. He was 76.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., Macellari served four years in the Air Force after high school. He moved to Boise, Idaho, and apprenticed as a camera operator from 1953 to 1957 at Syms-York, where he joined Portland Local 36 of the Amalgamated Lithographers of America.

Just a few months after he began his apprenticeship, Macellari was elected shop steward of the Portland local, whose jurisdiction included Boise.

After losing his job during a strike, Macellari transferred to Seattle, where the union found work for him. In Seattle, he worked at Deers Press and the North Pacific Banknote Co., which later became United Graphics.

Macellari became active in his new local– 45L, which through merger became Evergreen 530M and then Seattle 767M. He served as local vice president from 1959 to 1961, when he was elected the local's first full-time president.

As local president, Macellari served as a delegate and on the executive board of the King County Central Labor Council. He served as a delegate to International conventions and as a delegate on the Pacific Regional Conference. He also attended every International convention between 1961 and 1980.

In Nov. 1980, Macellari became an International organizer. During his 11 years as an organizer until his retirement in 1991, he coordinated campaigns in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

On the subject of organizing, Macellari said: "It's the most important thing we need." When organizing drives end in success, he said, "you pass unionism down the line. You've got to be union. That's all there is to it. There's no other way."

In a statement on his retirement, the General Board cited Macellari's "considerable energy and experience in organizing. . . ."

Macellari is survived by his wife Joyce; sons Scott, Mark, Paul, David, Daniel, and Jason; and seven grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers at the memorial service, the family requested donations to the Polio Outreach of Washington, Everett Chapter, c/o Rhonda Whitehead, 15913 119th Ave., NE, Bothell, Wash. 98011-4120.