Wells Booth McCurdy, son of Dr. Russell James (1892-1931) and Gertrude Beth (Hudson) (1896-1929) McCurdy, was born 24 June 1919, Seattle, King County, Washington. His mother Gertrude was a 1912 graduate of Okemos High School. At age 12 Wells and his 14 year old sister, Eileen, were orphaned and sent east to live with their grandparents, Rev. George and Emma Hudson, in Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan. Wells graduated in 1937 from Okemos High School, went back to Washington State, enrolled in the University of Washington and graduated there in 1941. Wells joined the US Naval Reserve and was called to duty during World War II serving in Coastal Defense of the United States. He rose to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Wells married 3 October 1939, King County, Norma Jane "Jane" Gorsline. The couple became parents of 3 children before their divorce 4 February 1977 Kitsap County, Washington.
After the war Wells became a speculator, developer, and activist among other pursuits. He was instrumental in developing Westfield Southcenter in Tukwila, Washington.
(Google quotation) Westfield Southcenter, formerly known as Southcenter Mall, is a shopping mall located in Tukwila, Washington, US, and owned by the Westfield Group. As of 2008 it was the largest shopping center in Washington and the Pacific Northwest.[ In early 1956, three officials from Northgate Shopping Center, James Douglas, president of Northgate Co., Wells McCurdy, Douglas' assistant, and Rex Allison, the vice president of Allied Department Stores formed the Southcenter Corporation as a subsidiary of Allied. Their goal was to eventually build a large shopping center south of downtown Seattle that would match the success of their own Northgate and began searching for a site, preferably with at least 100 acres.
The grand opening was held on July 31, 1968 at 11 A.M. with Washington State Governor Dan Evans as the key speaker. At 1,400,000 square feet with 92 stores employing 3,600 people, it was the largest shopping mall in the region.
Wells married Della Newman about 1979. Della, in the 1980's, headed Association of Washington Business, the main lobbying group in the state of Washington. She was and remains a high profile Republican activist on the west coast. Della also became a US Ambassador to New Zealand under President George Bush in 1989.
Wells died 27 June 1998, Skagit County, Washington.
The Seattle Times
Wednesday, July 1, 1998
Wells Mccurdy, Republican Fund-Raiser
Wells McCurdy, a Republican activist whose commercial developments included Northgate and Alderwood malls, practiced the art of the deal long before Donald Trump made the phrase famous.
And he did it with style, entertaining aboard yachts he chartered out to others, or hosting galas aboard his own railroad car berthed at Seattle's waterfront.
He was a fund-raiser for former Gov. John Spellman, helped Ronald Reagan's presidential campaigns and served as state finance director for George Bush's presidential campaign.
"What a good friend and supporter Wells has been over the years," said Congressman Jack Metcalf.
Mr. McCurdy died Saturday (June 27) of a pulmonary embolism. He was 79.
"The loyalty is what I think of the most," said Congresswoman Jennifer Dunn.
Dunn's fondest memory of Mr. McCurdy is when she visited him and his wife, Della Newman, in New Zealand shortly after Newman became ambassador to that country. It was Thanksgiving, which isn't a holiday in New Zealand.
"Wells searched all over the island to find a turkey," Dunn said. "I have this vivid memory of him mashing potatoes in the kitchen and me out picking kiwis."
A Seattle native, Mr. McCurdy spent his boyhood on Queen Anne Hill. After being orphaned at age 12, he moved to Lansing, Mich., to live with relatives.
But after graduating from high school he caught a bus to Seattle, enrolled at the University of Washington, and by 1941 earned a business degree.
In World War II he trained as a blimp pilot, and patrolled over the West Coast watching for enemy submarines. After the war he bought and sold surplus blimps to businesses that used them as flying billboards.
"He was always getting into different things, helping people, but then became interested in what they were doing," said his son Russ McCurdy of Arlington.
From the 1950s through the 1980s, Mr. McCurdy, a longtime resident of the Eastside, consulted on commercial ventures for various companies. He worked in finance, acquisition and site selection for shopping malls.
Convincing landowners their property was worth little unless developed, Mr. McCurdy bought land, negotiated zoning changes and signed tenants before "network" became a verb.
"My husband was a man of vision," said Newman, his wife of 19 years. "(He) loved putting projects and people together."
Mr. McCurdy met Newman while both were raising funds for state and presidential candidates. They lived in New Zealand for three years after she was appointed U.S. ambassador by former President Bush.
Other survivors include his children Claire Painter of La Conner; Bruce McCurdy of Poulsbo; Ted Newman of Ferndale; and Gretchen MacDonald of Vashon Island; his sister, Eileen Scholtz of Mount Olive, Mich.; and four grandchildren.
Wells' first wife, Norman Jane "Jane" Bridges McCurdy was born 1 December 1915, Sandpoint, Bonner County, Idaho. She died 18 July 2006, Snohomish County, Washington.
Jane McCurdy Bridges was a five-foot-two bundle of energy with a twinkle in her dark blue eyes, and was known as "sweet little Janie." She departed this life on July 18, 2006. To family, friends, and knowledgeable observers she was known as a very patriotic American, lover of freedom, and defender of traditional American values. Jane was a school teacher and principal by training, practice and thinking. After graduating from Western Washington University in 1936, she taught school in Sitka, Alaska and at various public schools in the Seattle area. She was always knee-deep in public activity and debate regarding young people and their education and learning experiences. Early on, Jane was Brownie troop leader of the year in Sandpoint, Idaho. Jane was past president of the Bellevue Parent Teachers Association, where she was a leader in the support of traditional American values. More recently she led a contingent of financial leaders in defense of the Boy Scouts.
Early in WWII she married Wells McCurdy, a naval officer serving in lighter-than-air Coastal Defense. Jane and Wells settled in the Seattle area, and became well known in numerous civic and political activities, most notably the Republican Party, University Women's Club, Rainier Club, Seattle Yacht Club, and P.E.O., to mention a few. In addition, Jane gave Wells wonderful support as he developed Southcenter and other regional shopping centers. They were blessed with three children: Claire, Russell, and Bruce.
In 1981 Jane and Lee Bridges of Riverside, California were married. Lee left Jane a widow in 1991. They had lived at Providence Point, in the Issaquah, Washington area, for five years.
Jane was born Norma Jane Gorsline in Sandpoint, Idaho in 1915. She had a happy childhood, and always thought of Sandpoint as her home. Her father and mother, Clem and Claire, were strong and loving parents. Jane was raised with strong Christian principles. Jane's grandfather and grandmother were two of the original founders and community leaders of Sandpoint, Idaho. Jane was especially proud of her grandfather, Will Whitaker, who was a prominent judge and state senator. Judge Whitaker was a very public-spirited citizen, and Jane remembered Indians camping in her grandparents' big front yard.
Jane lived in numerous places on the West Coast, including Idaho, Alaska, California, and Washington. For a time, Jane lived in California at Mountainview, and later at Irvine. However, she loved the Pacific Northwest, for years having a home on Mercer Island and Orcas Island. She was a homemaker, a hiker, a beach lover, and a lover of the arts. She always loved to have her grandchildren come to visit her at Orcas Island. A strong pro-American her entire life, Jane was an active conservative Republican. She was also a member of Pro-America and P.E.O. Throughout her lifetime she was active in support of pro-American leaders, including Senator Robert A. Taft, Barry Goldwater, and Ronald Reagan. Jane was a member of the First Church of Christ Scientist of Issaquah.
Jane is survived by her brother, three children, two grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Her brother is Arden Gorsline of Federal Way, Washington. Her children are Claire Painter Eberle of La Conner, Washington; Russell McCurdy of Arlington, Washington; and Bruce McCurdy of Poulsbo, Washington. Her grandchildren are Scott Painter of Los Angeles, California (great-grandchild, Luke Painter) and Tyler Painter of Orinda, California (great-grandchildren, Jackson and Anna Painter).