Charlie was born Dragutin Stanko Jovanovic in Rijeka, Croatia on February 19, 1919. His parents were Atanerije Ignac Jovanovic and Franjka Kriz Jovanovic. As a small child they moved to the island of Rab in northern Croatia on the Adriatic Sea. At the age of 6 his Mother suddenly passed away.
At the age of 8 he departed from Zagreb on a month long journey from Croatia to Canada unaccompanied. He spent 19 days on a boat. Once arriving in Halifax Nova Scotia Canada, he boarded a train for 10 days across Canada, eventually arriving in Vancouver British Columbia. His young cousins were at the train station anxiously awaiting his arrival. He was adopted by his great aunt and uncle, Anton and Maria (Tian) Tine. His only treasures on the journey were a head of cheese, a salami and a couple of pocket knives, which were all stolen from him. He later said it didn’t matter because he was seasick the entire voyage. Charlie grew up in Ladner British Columbia and graduated from Ladner High School. Following in his Uncles Anton’s footsteps he became a commercial fisherman and accomplished netman in Ladner British Columbia. On October 30, 1943 he and several of his fellow fishermen founded the Ladner Fishermen’s Hall.
As Charlie wrote in his beloved wife Julia’s obituary in 2014. “One day Julia decided to come to Vancouver to visit her twin sister Olga for 6 months. But there was one obstacle and that was when she met Charlie.” She met Charlie March 10, 1952, became engaged April 1952. After a long engagement of 2 months, they married on June 16, 1952. The love affair lasted 63 years until Julia’s passing.
Charlie and Julia had 2 children. Frances Tine Swain and Christ Tine. The family lived in Vancouver until January 1967 when they legally immigrated to Seattle. Charlie began working at New England Fish Company. He later became part owner of the Continental Pastry Shop in Seattle. Charlie was an active member of St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church. He and Julia volunteered every year at the church’s Greek festival. Charlie was also a member of the Masons St. John Lodge #90. He was a Shriner and played trumpet in the Shriner Drum Corp.
Besides his beloved family, Charlie’s other great love was the accordion, he was an incredibly talented musician. In 1939 he traveled to San Francisco for the Golden Gate International Exposition. He played accordion in the band that was one of the entertainers celebrating the opening of the Golden Gate Bridge. Charlie was a devoted loving husband and father and a selfless parent. Because of the hardships of his childhood Charlie made sure his children would know how much they were loved. Family was always important to him. His children fondly remember spending every Sunday with their cousins and aunts and uncles.
After retirement he and Julia traveled to Greece and Croatia several times. They were snowbirds and spent the winters in Palm Springs, where many of their close friends from Seattle wintered as well. Besides his great love of the accordion and music, he enjoyed gardening, physical fitness, and walking daily with Julia. Charlie was known for his quick wit and character. Former coworkers of his daughter still laugh about him jogging from his home in View Ridge to Pierre Dodge in Lake City to sneak a couple of cigarettes. Upon acquiring a cigarette from one of the workers he would then stay a bit laughing and sharing stories always reminding everyone to not tell Julia he was smoking. Then he would continue his jog home.
He was preceded in death by his beloved wife Julia Nichola Raptis Tine.
Funeral services will be held at St Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, January 29, 2021 @ 1130 AM followed by graveside interment at Holyrood Cemetery.
The family of Charlie Tine would like to express special thanks to Kaiser Permanente Hospice and his caregivers at Philanthopia Adult Home.
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