If, by chance, you have spent the better part of your life around the Northshore School District, you might remember him mostly as “Mr. Siverson,” the moniker students most likely used when Si Siverson spent his days as a district principal.

In 1965, Siverson became the first principal of what was then the brand-new Inglemoor High in Kenmore. Being the new school’s first leader certainly is one source of Siverson’s local notoriety. Notice the school’s auditorium was christened the “Si Siverson Theater.”

But Siverson also is known as a founder and charter member of the Kiwanis Club of Northshore, which toasted him Nov. 5 on the occasion of his 90th birthday.

Including Siverson, Inglemoor only has had four principals. The others, including Dave Rumppe, Al Haynes (a current Kiwanis member) and the school’s present principal, Vicki Sherwood, all were on hand to help honor Siverson during the Kiwanis Club’s regular weekly meeting.

Not incidentally, Siverson had perfect attendance at those early morning sessions for 40 years.

“Until recently,” added Kiwanis member Eric Barnum, “(Siverson) attended every Kiwanis spaghetti dinner and always greeted everyone who attended.”

After graduating from the University of Washington, Siverson said he took a job as an English, speech and drama teacher with the Northshore system in 1947. He went on to be a counselor and eventually was offered the top spot at the shiny new Inglemoor.

“It was a really good opportunity,” Siverson said. “I had a really good time there.”

During his days as principal, Siverson said one thing that always impressed him was the support the district received from the Northshore community. He said voters passed every levy, every bond issue.

“This community is so school-conscious,” Siverson said.

Siverson said he doesn’t notice too big a difference between kids when he was principal and kids now. He did say he doesn’t remember having any serious discipline problems at Inglemoor. If problems did occur, Siverson said parents almost always got involved. Siverson stepped down as principal in 1977.

“I put my 30 years in and thought, let’s let some of the younger people take over,” he said.

Siverson helped launch the local Kiwanis in 1964. He is one of three charter members still with the group. Besides saluting Siverson, another theme of the recent Kiwanis meeting was the need to attract new members.

According to Siverson the Northshore club still is pretty healthy in terms of membership and interest. But he admitted the Kiwanis and other similar service groups are having problems bringing in young members.

An Army veteran, Siverson is now a widower making his home in a Woodinville retirement community. His family is small, consisting primarily of daughter Lynne Siverson. Still talkative and friendly, her father said he spends most of his time with a friend of more than 60 years. Their latest form of entertainment is playing golf on Siverson’s Nintendo Wii.

“If someone had told me I’d end up doing what I’m doing, I’d have never believed them,” Siverson said.