James A. Rafferty, 72, liked to do it his way

Men live just one life - but if they live right, once is enough. That was James Arthur Rafferty's philosophy of life.

When Mr. Rafferty believed something needed doing, he did it.

In 1962, Nancy Riedel remembers, her father used $500 of his own money to print fliers and petitions for a ballot measure to fluoridate Seattle's drinking water. For his effort, he was featured in Newsweek magazine.

"He canvassed everywhere to get the initiative on the ballot," Riedel said. "It was defeated that year, but passed two years later."

He had silly nicknames for his children, one of which was Nanas Bananas for Reidel, his second-oldest daughter.

Jeanne Archer, his companion of 18 years, remembers a compassionate, generous man with a sharp wit and a love of words.

He was a voracious reader who loved history. His son Jimmy Rafferty described him as a walking library who could quote Shakespeare or Tennyson and often did.

They all said he was a fighter.

Mr. Rafferty died of colon and liver cancer Sunday (May 28) at his home in Langley, Whidbey Island. He was 72.

"In his death, I learned a lot about his courage and who he was," Riedel said. "Even toward the end he could have been nasty and mean, but he was still the gentleman, saying `thank you' or joking, `that's show business.' "

Mr. Rafferty and his family moved from Montana to Seattle's Queen Anne area when he was 10 years old.

He attended Queen Anne High School, and after a stint in the Army between WWII and the Korean War, he attended the University of Washington. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in English.

As a contract administrator for many companies, such as Boeing, he traveled the world.

Whenever he did anything, he went all the way.

"He'd always say, `You got to do it first-cabin if you're going to do something,' " Riedel said.

He also had to have things his way, which is why his family said they will play "My Way" by Frank Sinatra during the memorial service.

Other survivors include friend and former wife Jackie Rafferty of Seattle; daughters Leslie Feaster of Chico, Calif., Karole Schurman of Kirkland, Mary Bugenski of Seattle, Julie Hannon of Fairbanks; son Donovan Rafferty of Olympia; and 14 grandchildren.

A Mass is scheduled for 11 a.m. tomorrow at St. Hurbert Catholic Church in Langley.