Harry McGrath Obituary

Anacortes - Harry Eugene McGrath Jr., 80, of Anacortes, Washington, passed away on July 5, 2025, at North Cascades Health and Rehabilitation in Bellingham.

Born in 1945 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Harry's life was one of purpose, resilience, and adventure. He was the only son of June, who served as both a Navy WAVE and later in the Women's Army Corps, and Harry McGrath Sr., a decorated World War II veteran who survived the bombing of Scofield Barracks during the attack on Pearl Harbor and later fought at Omaha Beach and the Battle of the Bulge. His parents met aboard a troop transport train during the war, and their wartime romance led to Harry's birth just before the war's end.

As a baby, Harry contracted polio and was diagnosed with infant paralysis. His recovery was considered miraculous, with only his left arm remaining affected. He was raised primarily by his mother in Alexandria, Virginia, and spent time with his grandparents in Oakmont, Pennsylvania. He attended Catholic schools and a military academy, instilling early values of discipline and service.

At age 17, with the Vietnam War escalating, Harry left high school and enlisted in the U.S. Navy with his mother's written permission. He went on to serve two tours as a radioman aboard the USS Sacramento, a supply ship supporting operations in Southeast Asia. He delivered high-priority communications and was later deployed to Forward Operating Bases to manage classified code exchanges. It was during this time that Harry was wounded in action and was awarded with the Purple Heart.

After the war, Harry found joy and inspiration in photography and travel, passions that would shape his professional life. He took a job installing radar systems in airports across Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. The nature of his work and the places it took him attracted the interest of the U.S. government, which found ways to make use of his presence abroad. While based in California, he met Karen, a travel agent in Silicon Valley. They married in 1978 and had daughter Jessica soon after.

Harry's professional path led him from the radar business into the heart of Silicon Valley's tech boom. He served as President of Magnum Microwave, then moved into marketing with the firm Regis McKenna, managing accounts for Intel and Apple. His work brought him into contact with the early founders of both companies, and he took great pride in helping shape the messaging of the industry's pioneers. In 1983, his son Travis was born.

A competitive glider pilot, Harry was a member of Flight Level 500, a group of soaring enthusiasts who attempted to break the 50,000' altitude record in sailplanes. The young family often tagged along on expeditions, and on more than one occasion had to retrieve him from an unexpected landing in a farmer's field.

In 1987, Harry accepted a new position as VP of Sales and Marketing for Hitachi, prompting a cross-country move to Fishkill, New York. When Japan's economy slowed, he shifted into advertising again, joining Ammirati & Puris. The family has fond memories of taking the train into Manhattan to visit him in his corner office on Madison Avenue.

During their years in New York, Harry and Karen ran a successful antique business, Summerdale House, in Millbrook. Clients included Liam Neeson, Kevin Bacon, and Mary Tyler Moore. Their weekends were often spent scouring estate sales and flea markets, with reluctant children in tow.

Eventually, Harry moved into insurance, accepting a management position that led the family to relocate to Washington State. After exploring communities between Bellingham and Everett, he settled on Anacortes as the perfect place to begin their next chapter.

In his later years, Harry reinvented himself once again. He became one of the earliest eBay Power Sellers and launched a successful online business that blended entrepreneurship with education. Writing under the name "Skip," his childhood nickname, he authored 17 books about online selling. Among them was The Complete Idiot's Guide to eBay, co-authored with his daughter-in-law, Lissa McGrath. His books sold tens of thousands of copies and helped countless people launch their own businesses from home. Harry retired from eBay and publishing in 2021. In his final blog post, he left his readers with this advice: "Remember, the only thing standing between you and achieving your goals, is you."

Harry was a man of character who valued his family, his country, and the dignity of hard work. He passed along a facetious and mischievous sense of humor to his children, who still quote him regularly. He was curious, loyal, independent, and unafraid to reinvent himself. His was a life well-lived.

In the final months of his life, the VA officially recognized what he had borne quietly for decades, granting him full disability status as a combat veteran.

He is survived by his beloved wife of 47 years, Karen McGrath; daughter Jessica McGrath (granddaughter Rowan); son Travis McGrath (Christine and granddaughters Cora and Morgan); brother Stevan McGrath; and sister Melinda McGrath. He also leaves behind his faithful dog, Kipling.

A memorial service will be held for family and close friends on August 16, 2025.

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