Longtime islander Capt. Ronald J. Kutz, age 74, died July 9 in Seattle from complications related to an accident on June 12.

He was born Feb. 2, 1928 in Seattle to John A. and Helen V. Kutz. He attended grade school in Seattle and Bainbridge Island, and in 1938 the family moved permanently to their summer home at Port Madison. He graduated from Bainbridge High School in 1947.

Growing up at Port Madison with his three brothers and a sister, he developed a love for the water.

He spent summers during the war years working on tugs and ferries on Puget Sound. During high school, he joined the Merchant Marine and sailed overseas on Victory ships and freighters.

He married Marilyn Heinisch in 1948, and they raised their three children on Bainbridge until 1962, when they moved to Juneau, Alaska.

While on Bainbridge, Kutz worked for Black Ball Transport. When several Black Ball vessels were sold to the new Washington State Ferries in the early 1950s, he transitioned there as a mate.

He worked his way up to master on the ferries and served on all of the early boats, including a stint as captain of the San Mateo, the world’s only steam ferry. At one time, he was the youngest captain in the WSF fleet.

In 1962, when the State of Alaska formed the Alaska Marine Highway with three new ferry liners, he was appointed master of the brand new M/V Taku. He was later reassigned as captain of the M/V Wickersham on its voyage from Sweden to Juneau, after it was purchased from the Swedish Stena Lines.

In 1974, he took command of the M/V Columbia, newly built in Seattle, and served as its master until his retirement in 1987.

In 1975, he and his wife moved to Kingston. Avid boaters, they owned a trawler yacht for 20 years, which made several trips to Alaska.

He worked several summers piloting the big cruise ships throughout Southeast Alaska.

He enjoyed travel, golf and working on projects around their homes in Kingston and Gold Canyon, Ariz.

Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Marilyn J. Kutz; sister Shirlee Clementz (Ben) of Port Ludlow, and brothers Jack Kutz of Bainbridge, Alan Kutz (Marilyn) of Kingston, and Robert Kutz (Helen) of Federal Way; son David J. Kutz (Janice) of Kingston; daughters Patricia E. Stoll (James) of Poulsbo, and Kerilee R. Vester (Barry) of Covington; and six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. July 19 at the Stone Chapel, Poulsbo. A gathering will follow at 1 p.m. at the Kingston Cove Yacht Club An online memorial can be found at www.lewischapel.com.

Donations can be made to the Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society, P.O. Box 9731, Seattle, WA 98109-9731.