Passages
Walt Crowley 1947-2007
Walt Crowley , a political commentator and prominent citizen historian who co-founded an online encyclopedia of Washington state history, has died after complications following a stroke. He was 60.
Crowley had battled cancer of the larynx and recently underwent surgery to remove a small growth linked to a recurrence of the disease when he suffered a stroke on Thursday. Family and friends were at his side Friday, at Virginia Mason Center, when doctors removed him from life support.
Friday afternoon, family and friends gathered at the hospital and over the phone in an impromptu memorial to share stories about the wiry, opinionated, outspoken historian and former left-wing journalist who got first his job in Seattle city government by protesting that same bureaucracy.
Born in suburban Detroit, Crowley lived in Washington, D.C., and Connecticut before his family moved to Seattle in 1961, after his father took a job with Boeing Co. Here he attended newly opened Nathan Hale High School and worked as an illustrator at Boeing before enrolling at the University of Washington, where he became active in anti-war and civil-rights movements of the late 1960s. He dropped out in 1967 to work at The Helix, left-wing weekly paper at the school. In 1970, he helped mediate talks between city officials and protesters after riots rocked the University District. "I remember him very well because he had a Lenin hat with a big red star on it" when they first met, then-Mayor Wes Uhlman said. "I realized he was a very smart guy, so I hired him."
Uhlman then decided to hire Crowley as a liaison between the students and the mayor's office, pushing the idealist on the outside into the rough-and-tumble world inside local politics. Smart, quick on his feet and unafraid of either an argument or a laugh, Crowley was, Uhlman noted, well suited for city politics.
In 1977, he returned to the private sector, beginning a long on-and-off career in journalism, eventually working as both a freelance and a staff writer for the Seattle Weekly and its founder, David Brewster. Crowley had an on-and-off career in journalism, working as both a freelance and staff writer for the Seattle Weekly.
After a brief, failed run for City Council, Crowley did some writing and political consulting. Representatives with the Municipal League, knowing Crowley's deep knowledge of local institutions, asked him to write a small book to detail the league's 75-year history. Pleased with the results and working with McCaffrey, the pair eventually published the histories of several local institutions, including the Rainier Club, and much later on, the Blue Moon Tavern.
It was also during this time that Crowley began a seven-year run, from 1986 to 1993, on KIRO television's "Point-Counterpoint," taking the role as the liberal foil to conservative radio host John Carlson. The pair completed more than 800 episodes of the popular political show.
In the late 1990s, Crowley, his wife, Marie McCaffrey, and historian Paul Dorpat rounded up investors and launched Historylink.org. Slow to catch on at first, the Web site gained traction after a $100,000 grant from Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen in 2002 allowed it to broaden its scope statewide. Today Historylink.org boasts gets about 4 million hits a month and is considered a model for similar sites across the country.
Pam Health, one of the Web site's board members, said Crowley considered it his crowning achievement. He saw historical information as a public utility, "as vital as running water or your lights," she said. In addition to his wife, Crowley is survived by his mother, Violet Kilvinger, and father, Walter Crowley.
More information about Walt’s life and career.
There is also a wonderful article published in the Seattle Times which talks about the memorial service that took place on Tuesday, October 2 nd, 2007.
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Phyllis Brown Bannister 1917~2007
Phyllis was born in Seattle, daughter of Ethel Cotter Brown and Marsh Brown. She lived near Phinney Ridge and graduated from St. John's Elementary School and Lincoln High School. She was a theatre major at the University of Washington where she performed at the Glenn Hughes Playhouse. She married Rock Bannister in 1941 and followed his career as a WWII Navy pilot, and later when he became a pilot for United Air Lines. Phyllis and Rock had four children. Phyllis was a devoted wife and mother. She supplied after-school art projects and treats for neighborhood children in their Montlake neighborhood, and served as president of the PTA. The family loved to go camping and to travel. The family moved to Denver in 1960. Later she and Rock lived in New York and California before returning to the family home on the shores of Hood Canal after Rock retired in 1976.
Later she resided on First Hill where she was active in political, environmental and community issues. She joined Historic Seattle in 1994 and has been a member ever since. In 1999 Phyllis became a volunteer with Historic Seattle working as an oral history interviewer for the First Hill Project. She also served as a docent on a number of Tea & Tours and helped out on various other projects. Phyllis also enjoyed the out-of-town tours, sponsored by Historic Seattle, and traveled to San Francisco in April 2006 on just such as trip.
She was a member of Plymouth Congregational Church and helped establish Town Hall as a community meeting place. She then moved across the street from it to the Exeter House. She lived there for the past seven years where she had many friends.
Her other passion was theatre. She was active at Cirque Theatre, the Bellevue Play Barn and later as a member of the Phoenix Players. She hardly ever missed an Intiman or ACT production, even in her later years. She walked everywhere. Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents and husband. She is survived by her children, Barbara Quinn and Patricia Bannister of Seattle, Roberta Glidden of Ogden, Utah, William Bannister of Rohnert Park, California, her brother, Marsh Brown, Jr., nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren, all of whom will all miss her joyful smile.
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Historic Seattle lost three of its best and brightest members in 2006 and we would like to take time to remember their extraordinary achievements.
Steven Arai AIA, AICP 1946 - 2006
Steven Arai
Photo: courtesy AIA
Historic Seattle lost its longest serving Council member in late December. Steven Arai was appointed to the Council in 1983 and despite ill heath, continued to serve during
2006. He chaired the Council in 1987. Steve was passionately committed to community
service, Northwest architectural heritage, and an inclusive design culture. With deep
family roots in Northwest architecture and in Seattle’s Asian American community—
Kichio Allen Arai became the first Asian American to design buildings in his own
name—Steve directed his practice to singular achievement in the expression of community
heritage in civic architecture and historic preservation.
His leadership in the planning and design of civic and government projects and in extensive advocacy advanced
public trust in design as well as preservation of historic resources in communities throughout the Northwest and
the U.S. His inclusive spirit drew others to join him in significant community and professional activism. With
colleagues of the firm currently known as Arai Jackson Ellison Murakami, Arai directed one of the Northwest’s
foremost civic design firms, manifesting a notable contribution to the shaping of major public projects – with
special sensitivity to both community values and historic preservation.
With his direction, the firm produced an impressive portfolio of historic preservation projects located throughout
the Northwest. The firm also invested in several historic properties to house its growing practice over the years,
including the Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. Over more than two decades on the Council of Historic
Seattle – widely regarded as the community’s most effective guardian of historic properties – he had a key role in
some significant victories, leveraging his professional experience to help mobilize the organization’s mission in
public information and advocacy for historic preservation.
In practice, profession, and civic service, Steve Arai connected design with important community issues, and through
his personal example and caring relationships drew others to join him in expressing and supporting their professional
commitments. His loyal, passionate, and wise council to Historic Seattle for over 24 years cannot be underestimated.
Compiled by Marga Rose Hancock Hon. AIA and Lawrence Kreisman, Hon. AIA Seattle
Gwendolyn Vivian Ballard 1929-2006
Gwen Ballard
Photo: Marissa Natkin
Gwen Ballard, a long time resident of Queen Anne, joined Historic Seattle in 1996 and soon after became an active volunteer. She came to the Dearborn House at least one day each week to help with a range of administrative tasks -- bookkeeping, data entry, filing, copying, and mailings and rarely said “no,” often taking projects home to complete. Her regular weekly shift was invaluable to staff; we could always count on her to be thorough and efficient. In addition to her weekly volunteer time slot, Gwen was a member of the Arts & Crafts Guild and a regular docent volunteer for Teas & Tours. She often assisted at registration and was always willing to help with a special project or assignment. Gwen was both delightful company and a gentle soul who shared openly and cared about so many. She was warm and gracious with a radiant smile and captivating eyes that twinkled.
Gwen was born on Christmas Day, 1929 in Detroit and earned a degree in English Literature at Wayne State University. She lived in Seattle, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts, and Florida prior to returning to Seattle in 1981. Gwen possessed an amazing diversity and thirst for knowledge. She was a kindergarten teacher, librarian, secretary, computer technology instructor and tax accountant. Her interests included arts and crafts, literature, music, animals, gardening, travel, and world politics. She was also a talented weaver and an active member of two book clubs.
Gwen died peacefully on October 12th after a severe stroke. She is survived by her daughter, Lisa Eisner, her son, Derek Eisner, her long time partner of 22 years, Clell Bunten, and brothers, Dick Ballard and Bob Ballard. A Celebration of her Life was held at the historic Dearborn House on Saturday, October 21 st. Friends were invited to share their memories of Gwen and in lieu of flowers, remembrances were made to the Nature Conservatory, Historic Seattle, and non-profit groups involved in pet adoption such as Purrfect Pals, Oasis for Animals, PAWS and Alternate Humane Society. Gwen brought love, joy, kindness, wit and intelligence to all she touched, and will be missed dearly.
Paul Slane 1953-2006
Paul Slane
Paul Slane was a member of Historic Seattle since 1995. He participated in our April, 2005 Landmarks Nomination Workshop so he could learn how to save the 1904 Cooper House ( 225-227 Fourteenth Street E. on Capitol Hill), slated for demolition. Paul lived nearby and noticed the yellow "Master Use Permit" application sign on the property while walking his dog. He researched and wrote a nomination which was reviewed at the City's Landmarks Preservation Board on September 21, 2005. Because of Paul's competence and diligence, the Cooper House was designated a City landmark on November 2, 2005.
Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Paul graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Urban Planning, but never worked in that profession. He was a retired Boeing employee who had procured navigational guidance systems for satellites launched from the Space Shuttle. He lived on Queen Anne and Capitol Hill for the past thirty years and had restored a 1929 Tudor Revival style house.
Paul died of liver cancer in August, 2006. At his request his family and friends gathered for a memorial service at Historic Seattle's headquarters in the Dearborn House. As soon as his sister walked into the historic building, she said "This is Paul." Those in attendance were moved by all that Paul had accomplished in his life in addition to his historic preservation activism. Christine Palmer, Historic Seattle's Preservation Advocate, recalled Paul's personal friendship as well as his willingness to do yeoman's chores for the advocacy program.
