Girton R. Viereck, 82, Investment Banker Who Made `Everyone Feel Important'

Girton R. Viereck, a respected Seattle businessman, can be best described from a 20-year-old shopping list.

Mr. Viereck died Thursday at a nursing home after suffering from Alzheimer's disease for five years.

Yesterday his wife, Jean Baur Viereck, found a note she wrote about him on an old shopping list stashed away in his personal file.

The note said: ``Girton is an unassuming, non-threatening conservative who projects an inner security that obviates any demonstration of ego - a trait rare in circles of successful men.''

Mr. Viereck was most noted by his colleagues for the 50 years he spent working in the securities-investment business. But his success really began in college.

Born April 22, 1908, in Bremerton, Mr. Viereck moved to Seattle to attend the University of Washington where he majored in business.

He was elected student body president his junior year and became president of the Pacific Coast Student Body Association in 1931, the year he graduated. He was also a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the university crew and track teams.

Mr. Viereck began his investment career with Hartley Rogers and Co., a firm he eventually owned.

In 1959 he established another office which is now Prudential-Bache Securities in Seattle.

Before retiring in 1985, Mr. Viereck was governor of the Investment Bankers of America, president of the Seattle Bond Club and an officer of the National Association of Security Dealers.

``What I loved most about him is that he was an unassuming man,'' she said. ``He had the ability to make everybody feel important whether they were a barber or the heads of banks.''

Joshua Green III, chairman of U S Bank, said Mr. Viereck was a good friend and business associate to three generations of Greens. Besides being a highly respected and well-liked stockbroker, Mr. Viereck was also admired for his people skills.

``He had the ability to relate to people 30 or 40 years younger as a friend and peer rather than an elder,'' Green said.

Mr. Viereck also loved music and served on the Seattle Symphony board of trustees and was recently named a trustee emeritus.

He was also a member of the Rainier Club, Washington Athletic club, Broadmoor Club, Seattle Yacht Club and the Seattle Tennis Club.

Memorial services will be held at 4 p.m. Tuesday at the Epiphany Church of Seattle.

This time shouldn't be sad, it should be a celebration because he led a wonderful life, said Jean Viereck. ``I'm just sorry he was ill and missed the '87 (stock market) crash,'' she said. ``He would've gone through with flying colors.''

Besides his wife, Mr. Viereck is survived by two children, Susan Viereck-Hodgson of Corning, Calif., and G. Robert Viereck Jr. of San Francisco; his sister, Winona Ward of Severna Park, Md.; and two grandchildren.

Remembrances can be sent to Alzheimer's Research, Health Sciences Development XF-01, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195.