OBITUARY: PHIL TRAFF 1948-1992
Phil Traff passed way on May 6, 1992 at the age of 43. He was born on July 9, 1948, the son of Herb and Jennie Traff. He graduated from the University of Washington with a major in biology and a minor in geology. He taught both in the Lake Washington and Derringer school districts.
It was in the field of dahlias that Phil really made his mark. Together with his mother and her friend, Stella Jarvis, he founded the Grays Harbor Dahlia Society. He impressed everyone when, as a teenager, he entered (and won!) dahlia shows up and down the coast. When he moved to Seattle, he joined the Seattle Dahlia Society which he served as both secretary and president, and the Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference, of which he was secretary. Later he formed the Puget Sound Dahlia Association, serving as its first and fourth presidents, an office he held at the time of his death. He also helped organize the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers, a regional parent organization for local dahlia societies in the Northwest. He was elected as the Federation's representative to the American Dahlia Society Board of Directors.
Phil was recognized as not only one of the world's top dahlia experts, but also as the flower's greatest visionary. He established Dahlias Of Today, the annual publication of PSDA, which is recognized by dahlia gowers worldwide as the finest dahlia publication available. He was the chief editor and the idea man behind the articles. As a commercial dahlia grower, he originated many varieties, including CONQUISTADOR, POCRATES, PINEAPPLE LOLLIPOP, VANTAGE, HARVEST, WILDMAN, RADIANCE and scores more. In addition, by bringing to the United States the introductions and seeds of Cyril Higgo of South Africa, Phil rejuvenated interest in the lovely fimbriated or split-tipped dahlias. He daily sold hundreds of bunches of cut flower dahlias to local florists as well as selling tubers from his Sumner farms. His ideas caused many innovations in dahlia exhibiting. Phil was the moving force behind the Seattle Flower Show held the last weekend in August by PSDA in conjunction with flower societies and commercial garden enterprises from around the Northwest.
Phil is survived by his mother, Jennie Traff, his aunts Mary Reece and Valeria VanLandingham, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Herb Traff.
Services will be held in the Sumner Presbyterian Church in Sumner, WA on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Rev.Rowe. Phil requested no flowers at the service. Instead memorials may be made to Puget Sound Dahlia Association, PO Box 56023, Bellevue, WA 98006. The memorials will be used to mint the Phil Traff Medal.
Phil Traff passed way on May 6, 1992 at the age of 43. He was born on July 9, 1948, the son of Herb and Jennie Traff. He graduated from the University of Washington with a major in biology and a minor in geology. He taught both in the Lake Washington and Derringer school districts.
It was in the field of dahlias that Phil really made his mark. Together with his mother and her friend, Stella Jarvis, he founded the Grays Harbor Dahlia Society. He impressed everyone when, as a teenager, he entered (and won!) dahlia shows up and down the coast. When he moved to Seattle, he joined the Seattle Dahlia Society which he served as both secretary and president, and the Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference, of which he was secretary. Later he formed the Puget Sound Dahlia Association, serving as its first and fourth presidents, an office he held at the time of his death. He also helped organize the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers, a regional parent organization for local dahlia societies in the Northwest. He was elected as the Federation's representative to the American Dahlia Society Board of Directors.
Phil was recognized as not only one of the world's top dahlia experts, but also as the flower's greatest visionary. He established Dahlias Of Today, the annual publication of PSDA, which is recognized by dahlia gowers worldwide as the finest dahlia publication available. He was the chief editor and the idea man behind the articles. As a commercial dahlia grower, he originated many varieties, including CONQUISTADOR, POCRATES, PINEAPPLE LOLLIPOP, VANTAGE, HARVEST, WILDMAN, RADIANCE and scores more. In addition, by bringing to the United States the introductions and seeds of Cyril Higgo of South Africa, Phil rejuvenated interest in the lovely fimbriated or split-tipped dahlias. He daily sold hundreds of bunches of cut flower dahlias to local florists as well as selling tubers from his Sumner farms. His ideas caused many innovations in dahlia exhibiting. Phil was the moving force behind the Seattle Flower Show held the last weekend in August by PSDA in conjunction with flower societies and commercial garden enterprises from around the Northwest.
Phil is survived by his mother, Jennie Traff, his aunts Mary Reece and Valeria VanLandingham, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Herb Traff.
Services will be held in the Sumner Presbyterian Church in Sumner, WA on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Rev.Rowe. Phil requested no flowers at the service. Instead memorials may be made to Puget Sound Dahlia Association, PO Box 56023, Bellevue, WA 98006. The memorials will be used to mint the Phil Traff Medal.
OBITUARY: PHIL TRAFF 1948-1992
Phil Traff passed way on May 6, 1992 at the age of 43. He was born on July 9, 1948, the son of Herb and Jennie Traff. He graduated from the University of Washington with a major in biology and a minor in geology. He taught both in the Lake Washington and Derringer school districts.
It was in the field of dahlias that Phil really made his mark. Together with his mother and her friend, Stella Jarvis, he founded the Grays Harbor Dahlia Society. He impressed everyone when, as a teenager, he entered (and won!) dahlia shows up and down the coast. When he moved to Seattle, he joined the Seattle Dahlia Society which he served as both secretary and president, and the Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference, of which he was secretary. Later he formed the Puget Sound Dahlia Association, serving as its first and fourth presidents, an office he held at the time of his death. He also helped organize the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers, a regional parent organization for local dahlia societies in the Northwest. He was elected as the Federation's representative to the American Dahlia Society Board of Directors.
Phil was recognized as not only one of the world's top dahlia experts, but also as the flower's greatest visionary. He established Dahlias Of Today, the annual publication of PSDA, which is recognized by dahlia gowers worldwide as the finest dahlia publication available. He was the chief editor and the idea man behind the articles. As a commercial dahlia grower, he originated many varieties, including CONQUISTADOR, POCRATES, PINEAPPLE LOLLIPOP, VANTAGE, HARVEST, WILDMAN, RADIANCE and scores more. In addition, by bringing to the United States the introductions and seeds of Cyril Higgo of South Africa, Phil rejuvenated interest in the lovely fimbriated or split-tipped dahlias. He daily sold hundreds of bunches of cut flower dahlias to local florists as well as selling tubers from his Sumner farms. His ideas caused many innovations in dahlia exhibiting. Phil was the moving force behind the Seattle Flower Show held the last weekend in August by PSDA in conjunction with flower societies and commercial garden enterprises from around the Northwest.
Phil is survived by his mother, Jennie Traff, his aunts Mary Reece and Valeria VanLandingham, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Herb Traff.
Services will be held in the Sumner Presbyterian Church in Sumner, WA on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Rev.Rowe. Phil requested no flowers at the service. Instead memorials may be made to Puget Sound Dahlia Association, PO Box 56023, Bellevue, WA 98006. The memorials will be used to mint the Phil Traff Medal.
Phil Traff passed way on May 6, 1992 at the age of 43. He was born on July 9, 1948, the son of Herb and Jennie Traff. He graduated from the University of Washington with a major in biology and a minor in geology. He taught both in the Lake Washington and Derringer school districts.
It was in the field of dahlias that Phil really made his mark. Together with his mother and her friend, Stella Jarvis, he founded the Grays Harbor Dahlia Society. He impressed everyone when, as a teenager, he entered (and won!) dahlia shows up and down the coast. When he moved to Seattle, he joined the Seattle Dahlia Society which he served as both secretary and president, and the Pacific Northwest Dahlia Conference, of which he was secretary. Later he formed the Puget Sound Dahlia Association, serving as its first and fourth presidents, an office he held at the time of his death. He also helped organize the Federation of Northwest Dahlia Growers, a regional parent organization for local dahlia societies in the Northwest. He was elected as the Federation's representative to the American Dahlia Society Board of Directors.
Phil was recognized as not only one of the world's top dahlia experts, but also as the flower's greatest visionary. He established Dahlias Of Today, the annual publication of PSDA, which is recognized by dahlia gowers worldwide as the finest dahlia publication available. He was the chief editor and the idea man behind the articles. As a commercial dahlia grower, he originated many varieties, including CONQUISTADOR, POCRATES, PINEAPPLE LOLLIPOP, VANTAGE, HARVEST, WILDMAN, RADIANCE and scores more. In addition, by bringing to the United States the introductions and seeds of Cyril Higgo of South Africa, Phil rejuvenated interest in the lovely fimbriated or split-tipped dahlias. He daily sold hundreds of bunches of cut flower dahlias to local florists as well as selling tubers from his Sumner farms. His ideas caused many innovations in dahlia exhibiting. Phil was the moving force behind the Seattle Flower Show held the last weekend in August by PSDA in conjunction with flower societies and commercial garden enterprises from around the Northwest.
Phil is survived by his mother, Jennie Traff, his aunts Mary Reece and Valeria VanLandingham, and many friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Herb Traff.
Services will be held in the Sumner Presbyterian Church in Sumner, WA on Friday, May 15 at 11 a.m. under the direction of Rev.Rowe. Phil requested no flowers at the service. Instead memorials may be made to Puget Sound Dahlia Association, PO Box 56023, Bellevue, WA 98006. The memorials will be used to mint the Phil Traff Medal.
