Obituary: John A. Tarro

John A. Tarro, 78, died in Auburn, Washington, on June 29, 2016. He was the son of Nick and Mabel Tarro and was born in Decatur, Illinois, on their fifth wedding anniversary, Aug. 7, 1937.

John grew up in Ogden, Utah, graduating from Ogden High School in 1955. He then furthered his formal education at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City where he majored in economics and was a member of Beta Theta Pi fraternity. After completing college, he served in the United States Army. He then relocated to San Francisco and began a 40-year career in the property and casualty insurance industry.

John met his wife Sandy, in San Francisco. After they were married, John’s career took them to Portland, Oregon. Several years later they were transferred to Chicago. After three years in Chicago they returned to the Pacific Northwest where John finished his career in Seattle. John held the professional insurance designations of Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter (CPCU); Associate in Marine Insurance Management (AMIM); and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC).

In 2000, John and Sandy retired and moved to Prescott, Arizona, where they both became involved as volunteers for local animal welfare groups. John served on the board of the Yavapai Humane Society for many years. He also served as interim executive director of that organization on two different occasions and received the

YHS Founders Award in 2013.

Sandy preceded John in death; as did his parents. He had two brothers, Dr. Jim Tarro (Mimi) of Tualatin, Oregon, and Bill Tarro (Barbara) of Lubbock, Texas.

John is survived by his son, Michael Tarro; and his granddaughter, Ashlee Tarro, both of Auburn, Washington; and by several nieces and nephews.

John was well loved and respected and will be dearly missed.

A memorial service celebrating John’s life will be held Aug. 6, at 2 p.m. at Westhill Church in Auburn.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations in John’s name to the Yavapai Humane Society, Prescott, Arizona, or to a favorite charity.

Please visit www.yahnandson.com to sign the family’s online register.

Information provided by survivors.


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