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William Stoebuck Obituary

William "Bill" Brees Stoebuck

William Brees "Bill" Stoebuck was born in Wichita, Kansas on March 18, 1929 to William Douglas and Donice Beth (Brees) Stoebuck. He attended East High School and went on to graduate from Wichita State University in 1951 with a BA in History and a minor in Economics. He served in the Korean Conflict while in active service with the Air Force (1951 - 56) and earned a MS in History at Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1953. Upon his discharge as a 1st Lt USAF in 1956 he set his sights on law school. He attended University of Washington, where he served as Editor of Washington Law Review, graduating with a JD in 1959. Admitted to the Washington Bar in 1959, he practiced law for five years in Seattle before following his true calling, teaching: First at the University of Denver, College of Law as an assistant professor (1964-66). The next school year he studied at Harvard Law School, obtaining his SJD in 1973. In the Spring of 1967 he was admitted to US Supreme Court bar. In the fall of 1967 Bill was appointed as an Associate Professor of Law at University of Washington. He was later promoted to full professor in 1970. In 1995 he was made the first recipient of the Judson Falknor Professor of Law at U of W School of Law. Bill retired fully from teaching in 2007. He was a member of the Order of Coif and of counsel for Karr Tuttle Campbell.

Bill worked tirelessly on whatever pursuit captured his interest - from photography to sailing to becoming a national expert in real property law. He was a member of the University of Washington, School of Law Faculty for nearly 40 years. During that time, he co-authored a number of textbooks that were used in laws schools throughout the nation. Bill helped define Washington State Property Law. He was an avid sailor and boater, and spent part of every summer for over 35 years in the San Juans and Desolation Sound. Over the years he was active in the Lutheran church, Republican Party, Cascade Symphony Orchestra, and Seattle Yacht Club.

Bill married his high school sweetheart, Mary Virginia Fields, on December 24, 1951. After making numerous moves with the Air Force, and then for Bill's career, they made their home in Lake Forest Park. They enjoyed living in Lexington, Virginia, San Francisco, and Tbingen, Germany, while Bill was a visiting professor at several universities. They also traveled to Europe, Asia, and Hawaii.

He is missed by his wife of 60 years, Mary, and is survived by his daughters Elizabeth Wilson, Catherine Rose and Caroline Stoebuck; grandchildren Julie Bong (Dustin), Apryl Alaibilla (Ramondo), Roy Rose (Nadine), Emma Wilson and Abigail Wilson; and great-grand daughter Sienna Rose. He is also survived by his sister Beverley Olson (Richard), brother-in-law Alan Fields, and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service and internment will be at Acacia Memorial Park & Funeral Home, 14951 Bothell Way NE, Shoreline, WA 98155 on Tuesday, November 27, 2012 at 2:00 pm.

Viewing will begin at 9:00 am. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association of Washington (http://www.alz.org/alzwa/) or Evergreen Hospice Care.

Sign Bill's on-line Guest Book

at www.Legacy.com.

Published by The Seattle Times from Nov. 22 to Nov. 25, 2012.
34465541-95D0-45B0-BEEB-B9E0361A315A

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Memories and Condolences
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Bill Stoebuck has had a profound influence on my law school experience and my legal career. In my third year of law school in 1990-1991, he was my professor for my analytic writing paper that we worked on all year. He always told me I was a good writer, but I attribute much of that to him! We remained good friends after law school, having lunch a few times a year and I knew I could always call him with real property issues. I always enjoyed discussing issues with him and he always had the answers! He will be missed. Kristin Olson

January 28, 2013

I'm very sorry to hear this news. All my best wishes to Professor Stoebuck's family. As a former student, I particularly admired Professor Stoebuck's commitment to the law, his students, and the UW.

Scott Railton

January 23, 2013

Professor Stoebuck was the most influential teacher I had at UW. In 1969 we first year students were divided into small sections, and I was in his Real Property group. His emphasis on careful reading and analysis gave me a foundation that made all my subsequent class preparation seem easy. I am still practicing today, in a field that requires that same kind of close analysis, and I think of him often. John B. Magee (Washington, DC)

John Magee

January 19, 2013

Dear Stoebuck Family:

Please know that Bill was a blessing and inspiration to me as a law student. Of course we was a great scholar and professor, but he was even more -- a good man. I will always appreciate the contribution he made to law school diversity by being a conservative and Lutheran. I live with the hope that we will see him again. Thanks be to God for this good man.

Galen Schuler

January 16, 2013

I remember Professor Stoebuck well. I never missed a class in real property. I was afraid to because he had a reputation for being tough on grading. He also was very kind and generous to students. On the day of the exam he was always in the classroom to offer any last minute help. I even remember him allowing one student to take the entire final exam over because she had a rough time that year in her personal life. He was a great lecturer and a sharp dresser. He always reminded me of Clark Gable in his appearance. The best advice he gave us was a great lawyer never has all the answers but asks all the right questions. I want to offer my sincere condolences to his family.

Mary Chavez

January 16, 2013

I am very sad to hear of Professor Stoebuck's passing. My deepest sympathy goes to his family. I often tell people that it was Professor Stoebuck who really taught me how to write in law school. I am forever grateful to him for that, because his mentorship has had very many positive impacts on my life.

Tom McKeirnan (UW Law Class of 95)

January 15, 2013

Mary and the Stoebuck Family:

Professor Stoebuck was a man of gravitas and fairness in the classroom, and a pleasure outside of it. My parents are no longer around to share their condolences, so I must do it for the three of us.

Courtland Shafer

January 15, 2013

Professor Stoebuck was my favorite professor at UW Law School. I took every course he taught. His practical experience and lecture style made him an outstanding professor of law. Bill Drew, UW JD 1974

William Drew

January 15, 2013

For me, the first year of law school was difficult, not so much academically (although it was challenging), but emotionally. I realized even then that much of the stress was self-generated, but that didn't make it any less real.

At the end of the first quarter -- when I received disappointing grades posted on New Year's Eve -- I seriously considered dropping out of law school.

Then, during the winter quarter, I had Professor Stoebuck for Property. His excitement about a subject that, initially, seemed dry to me, was infectious. His concern for students was obvious and personally felt.

He became for me both my favorite professor and my mentor, as I made the transition into legal practice (including a couple of years at Karr Tuttle Campbell, where he was of counsel) and then into the legal academy. I am now in my third decade as a law professor, holding the Laghi Chair at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota.

On that New Year's Eve when I received my first set of grades in law school, I could hardly imagine that I would become a lawyer, much less a law professor and legal scholar. Professor Stoebuck inspired me to think, not just of passing law school, but of achieving something greater. As a professor and as a person, Bill Stoebuck has been one of the half dozen people who have meant the most to me in my professional life.

Greg Sisk (Minneapolis, MN)

Gregory Sisk

January 15, 2013

I am so sorry to hear that Bill died. I was so thrilled and complimented when he asked me to be a co-author of the Washington Practice. I knew him as a man of deep knowledge and sometimes a surprising sense of humor and I hope that I do him honor as the continuing author of the book.
John Weaver
Seattle

January 12, 2013

I was fortunate to take several real property courses from Professor Stoebuck in my time at UW. He was a great professor with an incredible wealth of knowledge, and I am grateful for all of the help and guidance he gave me in school and as I started practicing law. I was sorry to learn of his passing and send my deepest condolences to his family, my thoughts and prayers are with you.

Richard Chamberlain

January 7, 2013

Mary,
I just now learned of Bill's passing. I was surprized and saddened. I hope the best for you and the family.

Bob Casad

December 21, 2012

Mary: Both my brother and I saw your husband's obituary and remembered how fond our mother Ruth Waldo was of you folks. Take care, my dear. Nancy Smith, Richland WA

December 13, 2012

Dear Mary:

I was so saddened to hear of Bill's passing, and so sorry to be out of town for the holidays on the date of his service. I fondly remember my first year as a faculty member at UW, when I would be at work on Saturdays and always run into Bill. A particularly special memory for me is the day he invited me to join you and him for lunch at his club by the water. Over the years, as I got to know Bill better, I was deeply impressed by his professionalism, his work ethic, and his kindness. He will be deeply missed.

Peter Nicolas

December 5, 2012

My deepest sympathies to your family. Bill always treated me with respect and dignity and I will always have positive memories of him. My family has the Stoebucks in their thoughts and prayers.

Todd Wilson and the Wilson Family (Liberty Lake, Washington)

November 29, 2012

Professor Stoebuck was my 1L Property Law professor and also our faculty advisor. Faculty members were assigned several 1L students. Professor Stoebuck took this role very seriously and invited us to his home, early in Autumn Quarter, to his wife's home-cooked salmon dinner, and provided advice on how to study for law school classes. This was when we were very green and insecure so it was a great comfort to receive direct personal advice from an experienced professor.

Mie Murazumi

November 29, 2012

My thoughts and prayers are with his family. He was kind enough to take his daughters friends sailing and along with Mary, opened their home to giggling college girls. I am sorry to hear of their loss.

Pamela Orcutt Rimel

November 29, 2012

Professor Stoebuck was my property teacher in law school and remained my mentor after I graduated and started practicing law in 2002. He was a wonderful scholar and advisor and a great man. I was so very sorry to learn that he passed away.

Tatyana Gidirimski

November 27, 2012

I was so saddened to learn of Prof. Stoebuck's passing and disappointed to find out only after the funeral. He had a profound effect on my career as a real estate attorney. He was my first year property professor, land use and property development professor, and Law Review article advisor. His books were my bibles.

It was always a pleasure to see him at Cascade Symphony Orchestra concerts. He was a long time supporter of the CSO.

It is an understatement to say he was the foremost authority on Washington real property law. I always knew I could prevail in a case or discussion if I could say "but Professor Stoebuck says . . . ."

My thoughts are with Mary and family at this difficult time.

John Sullivan

November 27, 2012

Bill was my colleague at UW Law for 32 years. It was a relationship I enjoyed thoroughly, even though we hardly agreed about anything. Bill was always a gentleman and a very fine lawyer. We will miss him greatly.

Stewart Jay

November 26, 2012

Bill Stoebuck was my first year Property teacher and the faculty advisor for my Law Review article. Bill and Mary invited my wife Joan and me on several enjoyable sail boat outings. I will miss Bill. My condolences to Mary.

Frederick Schoepflin

November 26, 2012

Dear Mary and family:

I was sorry to hear of Bill's passing. As you know, he was a mentor to me when I joined the law faculty here. I am teaching first year property now, and there are few days that go by when I am teaching the subject that I do not find myself referring to one or more of Bill's books on the subject. He was truly a national leader in the field and his expertise and scholarship made a huge contribution to the subject. I have many fond memories of car pooling with Bill and John Haley, and also of walking to the IMA to swim. I will miss him. I am sorry to say I will not be able to attend the service tomorrow. I will be teaching. Somehow I think Bill would understand, and approve.

Tom Andrews

November 26, 2012

Everyone in the legal community knows that Prof. Stoebuck was a legend when it came to Washington real property law. What is less known is how giving he was to others with his time and talents. When a group of landowners of modest means was sued by a developer seeking to violate a property covenant in 2004, he volunteered to author an amicus brief on their behalf. His effort led to a unanimous reversal of the lower court by the state Supreme Court in the case of Viking v. Holm, and it has substantially impacted the course of the law for thousands in this state (not to mention the lives of dozens of regular citizens who would not have had the resources or expertise to win the case on their own).

On a personal level, Chryssa and I will miss him a great deal and offer our deepest condolences to Mary and the entire family.

Steve Calandrillo

November 26, 2012

Our condolences to Mary and the Stoebuck family. We first met and then got to know Bill and Mary through the KTC connection. Bill's association with the firm was a great and rewarding bonus for KTC. And we always enjoyed Bill's good humor, not to mention intellect. Sorry we will miss the service. We will be airborne from NY returning from T with family, but we will be thinking of you.

craig & jean campbell

November 26, 2012

Professor Stoebuck was one of the first faculty members I met when I joined UW; His office was a few doors down; He was always approachable and generous with his time -- imparting practical advice to a newcomer. His work on the law school's history was very important and he was an eminent property law scholar

Anita Ramasastry

November 26, 2012

Professor Stoebuck was my first year Property teacher (during which he took all of the students in the section out sailing) and later my mentor when I joined the UW Law faculty in 1996. I will remember him as a superb teacher and scholar, a consummate sailor and a valued colleague. My condolences to Mary and the rest of the family. Craig Allen

Craig Allen

November 26, 2012

Bill for many years served as of counsel with our firm, Karr Tuttle Campbell. His knowledge of real property law was immense, and he was unfailingly generous in sharing that knowledge with the rest of us. Bill's warm heart and good humor will be greatly missed by all of us who knew him.

Jim Austin

November 26, 2012

Bill and I were co-authors of several books on property law. He was a tremendous scholar and a wonderful writer; his writing had a real flair that kept it interesting. He had a great positive impact on the law of property, particularly in Washington, but also throughout the nation. It was always a pleasure to work with him, and I am very sorry to lose him as a friend and colleague. May God bless Mary and all of Bill's family.

Dale Whitman

November 26, 2012

I still miss our pithy conversations at Bethel Lutheran Church and the acquaintances we had in common. Gwen and I express our condolences---Mary and Caroline--God be with you .

Samuel & Gwen Bess

November 25, 2012

Dear Mary and Stoebuck family,
I have know your parents for 12 years and they have been a joy in my life...you William will be so missed...I send my love to Mary, sweet lady...I wish you all blessings always, Rose Mitcham

Rose Mitcham

November 25, 2012

Professor Stoebuck was a great inspiration to me. His love of real property law was infectious. I am thankful to have had, and to continue to have, his influence in my legal career.

Loren Combs

November 25, 2012

So sorry to hear of Bill's passing. Take care.

Pam Hallock

November 23, 2012

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