Jack Marincovich

The son of fishing parents who descended from fishing grandparents, who immigrated to the Lower Columbia area from a small island off the coast of Croatia, Jack Marincovich graduated from Westpoint High School in 1950 and went on to two careers. His livelihood was being a commercial fisherman where he also served as Executive Director of the Columbia River Fishermen’s Protective Union. His second career became super sports fan of youth athletics in the Lower Columbia area, and particularly Astoria High School.

Jack first started attending Astoria’s games when the Fishermen played at the old Armory. As so many parents do, he attended all of his two son’s (Jack Jr. and Andy) games, both home and away. However, that eight years only accounts for a small part of the more than 50 years of his attending Fishermen football, basketball, and baseball games, with a few track meets thrown in.

It is not possible to calculate the exact number of games Jack has attended, but since he has not missed a home game (as well as most away games) in the last 30 years, it is safe to say the number is in the thousands. He does this because “kids need support, whether it’s your child or not.”

Jack’s support doesn’t just end with attendance and cheering for the Fishermen. He has been involved in numerous fund raisers, as well as helping to get the new bleachers at John Warren Field and the new batting cage at Tapiola Park.

Jack lists the State Basketball Tournament at McArthur Court as very special – “Row six is like a reunion for us.”

Jack believes, “If a person wants a hobby, what is better than supporting youth athletics?” When interviewed Jack said, “Over the years, Astoria Athletics is a product of it’s Athletic Directors, coaches, players, fans, and the Parks and Recreation Department all working together.”

Jack joins his son Andy (2012 Basketball Inductee) as one of the four father/son combinations in the Astoria High School Athletics Hall of Fame.