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Local News: Thursday, March 20, 2003
Gary Worth was devoted to family, helping youth
By Natalie Singer, Seattle Times Eastside bureau
Whether he was camping in the mountains with a Boy Scout troop, playing foosball with the troubled youth he counseled, or spending time with his own young children, Gary Worth always had a smile on his face. The eternal optimist, his friends and family called him.
That optimism never wavered, even when his 3-month-old daughter, Sophia, was born two months premature. Mr. Worth simply took a leave from his job and spent day and night at the tiny girl's side, coaching her toward health first in the hospital and then in the family's West Seattle home.
That was the most time the father would spend with his new child. Mr. Worth died at his home March 11 from cardiac arrest linked to an undiagnosed heart condition. He was 30.
Born June 25, 1972, in Richland, Gary Scott Worth was one of 10 children. He was a fixture in his West Seattle community and at the Mormon church he attended with his family, frequently volunteering to clean up parks, collecting food for the needy, working with youth, and even taking in a 16-year-old girl who needed a place to live.
Taking a cue from his father, Mr. Worth put family values before everything, said Jolie Worth, Mr. Worth's wife of six years. The couple, who knew each other in high school but hadn't dated, were reunited as adults and fell for each other almost immediately.
While living in separate states, the two, who both minored in English in college, stayed close by writing letters. At first the notes reflected friendship, but soon took on the blush of love. The couple continued the practice of letter-writing even after they married.
Jolie Worth, 31, has a 9-year-old son, Oliver de Rosier, from a previous marriage. On their first date, Mr. Worth lifted Oliver, then 3, onto his shoulders and they all went to the Ice Capades. "It was like he was already prepared to be a father," recalled Jolie Worth.
The threesome settled in West Seattle and quickly built their family, adding Audrey, 5, Celeste, 2, and, in December, Sophia. It was mainly through his church that Mr. Worth started working with boys from disadvantaged homes, kids who were at risk of heading down the wrong path. He led the youth in ski trips, basketball games and prayer sessions.
Sometimes it was frustrating — the kids would talk back and weren't always easy to reach, said Carl Medlock, a close friend of Mr. Worth's. But the young man made it his goal to understand the teens, learning about the music they liked and familiarizing himself with their language.
"For some of these kids, the only good time they ever had was when they were on a camping trip or ski trip or spending time with Gary," Medlock said.
Mr. Worth received his bachelor's degree in film from Brigham Young University. He later returned to school at nights and on weekends, and earned a master's degree in technology management last year from the University of Washington. He worked for RealNetworks as a program manager, but his lifelong passion was film.
He volunteered for several years at the Sundance Film Festival and other film events. "He was a techie person, but he also had this other, creative side," his wife said.
That creative side often came out at night, when Mr. Worth — tired of doing homework after a long day on the job — would call one of his buddies to sneak out for a movie. "Comedies, action, classics — he loved them all," recalled close friend Dave Richman.
Even with all his friends — he had 400 addresses on his online instant-messenger list — he was devoted to family time, his wife said.
The Saturday before Mr. Worth died was a gray, rainy day, she remembered. But that didn't stop her husband. "He just jumped up and said 'OK, everybody get their coats on, we're getting out of here.' And he took us to Alki Beach to run around in the rain." Fish and chips and hot chocolate followed.
"That's the way he was," she said. "Spontaneous. Full of life. Always having fun."
In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Worth leaves behind his parents, Grant and Margaret Worth of Manassas, Va., and his six brothers and three sisters: Bryan Worth of Lisbon, Ohio; Stephanie Stewart of Tualatin, Ore.; Dustin Worth of Kirksville, Mo.; Carl Worth of Oakton, Va.; Nancy Clark of Provo, Utah; Roger Worth of Salt Lake City; Richard Worth of Alexandria, Va.; Kevin Worth of Manassas; and Karen Worth of Provo.
theworths.org > Gary Worth Memorial Page > Gary Worth Obituary