Former Grocer Frank J. Wald Dies

Though Frank J. Wald spent his life building a grocery chain and serving the community, he told family and friends he never worked a day in his life.

Mr. Wald considered each day a gift and said it was a privilege to be alive. He was a serious businessman, devout Catholic and most of all, a loving family man.

Born on a farm outside Karlsruhe, N.D., Mr. Wald dreamed of having a chain of grocery stores. In 1942, he and his wife moved to Seattle to realize his dream.

He started with two mom-and-pop grocery stores, one at North 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue North, which later became the first in a chain of Foodland stores. Then it became the landmark Food Giant store that for decades was a major landmark in Wallingford. The store is now owned by QFC.

The Foodland chain had seven stores when Mr. Wald sold to Lucky Stores of California. At one point in his career, his Rainier Valley Foodland was the largest supermarket west of the Mississippi.

"There wasn't such a word as can't, he always stuck by that" said his widow, Helen Wald.

Mr. Wald died Saturday (Sept. 27) of heart failure. He was 90.

Though Mr. Wald's only schooling was through the eighth grade, he was an avid supporter of education, particularly Catholic schools. Because of his generosity, a science building at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart in Bellevue bears his name.

"His faith sustained him through life. He felt that the more he gave, the more he got back from God," said his daughter, Kathy Visich of Bellevue.

Mr. Wald was a longtime member of several civic organizations. His favorite charity was the North Central Kiwanis Club camp for disabled children where, for 34 years, he served as head cook and camp director.

Mr. Wald is also survived by his son James Francis of Seattle; daughter Irene Strocsher and her husband, Ben, of Marysville; son-in-law John Visich; and grandchildren, Carole Visich, Renee Visich, Mary Ann Coombe, and Rick Strocsher; seven great-grandchildren; two brothers; and one sister.

A vigil is scheduled for 8 tonight and a funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. tomorrow. Both will be at Christ the King Church, 405 N. 117th St., Seattle.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to a favorite charity or to one of Mr. Wald's: The Retired Priests' Fund of the Archdiocese of Seattle, 910 Marion St., Seattle, WA 98104; the North Central Kiwanis Club's Disabled Children Fund, 6335 N.E. 155th, Bothell, WA 98011; or to the St. Joseph's Carmelite Monastery, 2215 N.E. 147th St., Shoreline, WA 98155.