Sidney Wax died in Bellevue on January 26, 2007, the morning of his 97th birthday. He was born in San Francisco in 1910.
In his life, Sid personified the classic American success story. In San Francisco, he helped raise three brothers and a sister. His family moved to Stockton, Calif. where, after the death of his father Harry, he was forced to dropout of 8th Grade to run the family furniture store. An entrepreneur at heart, Sid started as an apprentice in the fur business, then founded a fur design and manufacturing business with his older brother. The enterprise was interrupted by World War II, during which he served at Fort Lee, Va.
In 1939, Sid married Lee Raine in San Francisco and in 1942 the couple had their son, Herb Wax. After the war, Sid moved to Seattle, his wife’s hometown, and went into business with his brother-in-law buying and selling closeout merchandise.
He was a local icon as the president and co-founder of the home-improvement store remembered by many local Seattle people as “Wax and Raine” (Wax as in candle, Raine like Seattle). He later sold his business to Standard Brands in 1972. He credited the success of his business to the Seattle World Fair and the pride Seattle-ites took in improving their homes in preparation for the fair.
In 1976, Lee died. Sid married his second wife, Marilyn Rogers Stutz, in 1981. Sid and Marilyn enjoyed retirement traveling and spending winters in Palm Springs, Calif. Marilyn died in November 2005.
Sid was a kind, gracious, and humble man who had a special way of connecting with people. His greatest credit was the friendships he had with so many people, many lasting more than 50 years.
Sid was a lifetime member of Variety Club International, a 32nd-degree Freemason, a Shriner, and long-time member of Temple De Hirsch Sinai. For over 50 years, he was also a member of Glendale Country Club — at the time of his death he was their oldest living member.
Sid is survived by children Herb Wax, Jeffery (Shirley) Stutz, Brian (Dean) Stutz, Jonathan (Stacie) Stutz, and daughter Ellen Stutz (Steven) Weidner; grandchildren Anne-Marie (Matt), Jack, Brett (Rachel), Elliott, Adam, Eric, Katie, Jaclyn, Sterling, Blair, Morgan; and great-grandchildren Taylor, Jack, Shoham and Shelhevet.
Remembrances may be made to Jewish Family Service or the Caroline Kline Galland Home.