John A. Dirks Jr.

John A. Dirks, known as Jack, who as a deeply religious man was a founding member of St. Elizabeth Orthodox Church in Poulsbo, Wash., and as an addiction counselor helped scores of people, passed away on Oct. 31, 2024, at the age of 94.

He and his wife, Camilla, moved to Bremerton from West Seattle shortly before retirement in the early 1990s. They shared a love of classical music and were patrons of the Seattle Symphony and Seattle Opera. 

John Armstrong Dirks Jr. was born in New London, Conn., on Oct. 11, 1930, to John Armstrong Dirks Sr., a Coast Guard officer, and Dorothy (Cooper) Dirks. Coast Guard life took them to a variety of postings around the country, including Alaska, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco area. As a child, he appeared in a number of movies as a choirboy. Jack graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, served in the Nav,y and attended seminary at the University of the South (Sewanee). He later earned a master's degree at Washington State University.

Jack is survived by his first wife and their children, Martha Dirks Mancuso, Michael, William, and Richard, as well as his stepdaughters, Christie, Severina (Rinna), and Julie, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

 Arrangements entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home of Bainbridge Island, WA.