Rotary made Father Treacy’s future
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January 12, 2022
STRONG FAITH, CLEANING LIVING, RIGHT ACTION – Father William Treacy came to Seattle from Ireland in 1945 on a temporary assignment. Now, nearing 103 years old, he is still in the state and still going strong. He shared a chapter or two of his story with the La Conner Rotary Club Jan. 3. – Photo by Ken Stern
When the La Conner Rotary Club invited Father William Treacy to speak at their Jan. 3 meeting, members could expect a good tale from the 102-year-old Irish priest. The spry pastor did not disappoint the 25 or so members at their weekly Farmhouse Restaurant dinner meeting. He did not have time to tell all of his life’s story, but the chapters he shared revealed the long way he has come since leaving Ireland in 1945 for a temporary assignment in Seattle, which needed priests because of World War II.
Treacy has been in Washington state for 77 years now. A 1960 lunch with two Seattle Rotarians nudged him along his life’s path, he told the La Conner club. He met Rabbi Raphael Levine and William Warren. “I had never met a Jewish person,” he told the group. “I felt encouraged by what he wanted to do: to heal America.”
Completely aware of political tensions, then and now, Treacy brought up John F. Kennedy’s presidential run, when polls found 22% of people said they would not vote for a Catholic. So, of course, he worked with Levine, a person of another persecuted faith.
They became panelists on KOMO-TV program “Challenge,” titled for their charge to challenge each other and the audience, he said. The two “talked as friends” gaining complete trust in each other. The show ran for 14 years, with protestant ministers joining for interfaith dialogue on topics of the day.
Levine brought Treacy north toward Mount Vernon in 1966 and in the car convinced him to share in the purchase of a 300-acre dairy farm. They named it Camp Brotherhood. It became an interfaith center dedicated to creating peace and unity in the human family.
Camp Brotherhood is now the home of Camp Korey, where kids with severe medical challenges get to experience a free week at a summer camp. Treacy still lives on the grounds.
Taking questions, he was asked what was life’s biggest challenge? His immediate response: “Reaching 103 is a challenge. Try it.” In May he will be 103.
Treacy ended sharing a story showing his closeness with Levine. “The rabbi was asked a question: ‘Rabbi, would you ever eat pork?’ He answered, “Of course I would. I will eat it at Father Treacy’s wedding.’” Everyone laughed.
Alice Collingwood spoke up, sharing that every time Father Treacy said “a priest and a rabbi, I was waiting for a joke, so I am glad you ended with a rabbi-priest joke.”
Treacy pleased all the Rotarians present.
John Doyle, retired Town of La Conner administrator and planner, will speak on Fully Contained Communities at the 5:30 p.m. Jan. 17 meeting. Visitors are welcome. Reservations not needed.
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