Meet Bob Darrigan, an involved FW community member

After living in Federal Way for 40 years, Bob Darrigan still loves the city and serves the community in various ways, with the Lions being his main focus before serving others for God through his poetry and other endeavors.

Darrigan, 85, was born on April 7, 1940, in Newburgh, New York, spending some time there before moving about 10 miles north to Marlboro, New York. Darrigan said life was pretty normal, playing in the Hudson River, fishing, target shooting with his dad and hunting. But around age 9, he started to get into some trouble.

Darrigan said from the age of around 9 to 13 years old, he was part of a gang called the Washington Street gang, and they had issues with a rival gang, the Broadway gang. Darrigan said he would often get into fights, but that activity mostly ended when they moved to Washington when he was 13.

“It was bad stuff. I wouldn’t be alive today if I’d stayed there,” Darrigan said. “I had a knife put right on my throat and they said, ‘sneeze.’”

He was 13 when his mom and his three other siblings moved to Everett to live with his uncle. Darrigan said that his dad was in the military at the time in Korea, so they didn’t have much money. They only stayed in Everett for a few months before they moved to the projects near White Center. Darrigan said that because only his mom was working, they were very poor.

Darrigan said when he got to the projects, he joined another gang, but that only lasted for a little while before his dad came back from Korea.

“They were up to some shenanigans, then my father told me he refused to let me see them anymore, and I cried, and well, a week later they were all nailed for stealing,” Darrigan said. “I would have been involved in that, but dad put his foot down on me.”

After that, he started playing a lot of pool instead and then got into swimming. Regarding academics, he said he didn’t know how to read very well or study. He was more interested in being the class clown.

Soon after his dad came back from Korea, things were better financially, and they got a house farther north in Seattle. Darrigan said he graduated from Chief Sealth High School as a member of the first graduating class.

Despite not being very good at reading or studying, he knew he wanted to be a teacher. He said he was taught how to swim, so he decided he wanted to teach too and went to Central Washington University to become a teacher. He did very poorly in the first three quarters, but a school counselor helped him learn how to study. From there, he started reading comic books and third-grade reading level books to improve his reading skills.

The school counselor helped him learn how to outline, he became Christian early in college and prayed before every test, and from there, he made it onto the dean’s list and eventually graduated. Darrigan said he would go on to teach that outlining method to his third- and fourth-grade students.

After college, he moved to Elma, Washington, and became a teacher for about 20 years, but after he went through his second divorce at about 40 years old, he moved back to live with his parents. Darrigan said he became very depressed and was even suicidal at one point.

He went on to work in insurance sales, and it was at about 45 years old that he met his wife, Sharon, who died 10 years ago. Darrigan said it was when he met his wife that he moved to Federal Way in 1985, and he still lives in that home.

He continued selling insurance until he retired. For fun, he and his wife would travel around Washington in their RV, and that’s when he started puppeteering.

Another thing Darrigan started doing after he met his wife was join the Federal Way Lions. Darrigan said through the Lions, he’s been able to help a lot of young people through getting them glasses and helping with college scholarships, among other things.

Darrigan said he’s a Lion for life, but a Christian first. He said God has given him a lot of gifts in life, including his poetry and his drive to be of service. Darrigan said he serves in the community because he believes people are called to serve one another.

For the Federal Way Lions, he’s the membership chair, part of the global leadership committee and a former board member. Additionally, he helps with the kids ministry at his church, he is connected with the Soroptimists for Flag Day and he’s active for the community’s Veterans Day event. He’s often at the Federal Way Farmers Market putting on a puppet show and he also has another ministry where he prays with people at the Ernie’s gas station.

Regarding his favorite parts of Federal Way, he said Steel Lake is one of his favorite parts. Darrigan said he has a lot of good memories there, including the Family Fest circus.

“I love it. I don’t like it when people make wisecracks about it,” Darrigan said. “I love Federal Way.”

Darrigan said Applebee’s and Red Lobster are his favorite restaurants in Federal Way, and for a local small business option, he likes Poverty Bay Cafe. Regarding favorite activities, Darrigan said he loves the Federal Way Performing Arts Center, including the yearly art gallery and the shows they put on.