Howard P. Pruzan

Howard P. PRUZAN Howard P. Pruzan died peacefully on February 21, 2011 at the age of 88. He was born on September 25, 1922 in Seattle, the youngest of three brothers. He grew up on 23rd and Washington and graduated from Garfield High School in 1940. Howard attended the University of Washington for three years at which time he went into the Army. He fought in Germany during World War II as a member of the infantry. He was shot as he liked to say "in the butt" while crossing the Ramagen Bridge and was awarded a Purple Heart. He was honorably discharged from the Army as first lieutenant. After leaving the Army he came back to Seattle and married Inge Schlonau with whom he had fallen in love at first sight at a USO dance at Temple De Hirsch before he left to go overseas. He also resumed his studies at the University of Washington and graduated from law school in 1948. He joined Hugh Miracle and Ken Treadwell in the practice of law and the firm became know as Miracle Treadwell and Pruzan. Howard was an outstanding trial lawyer. From the beginning of his practice he championed the causes of those who needed help the most in our society. As just two of countless examples, early in his career he successfully represented a black Seattle police officer, Milton Price, against the Seattle Police Department for discrimination in promotion practices. He later represented the Price family when their young child tragically drowned and the cemetery would not bury the child because he was African-American. He also won that case. He and his partner Hugh Miracle were pioneers in the personal injury field and have left a legacy of great advocacy that has been an inspiration to many trial attorneys in this state. In 1975 Howard's son Steve joined him in the practice and they had 35 won- derful years of practice together. Howard was also an outstanding community leader. For his work in the Civil Rights Movement he was appointed by the Mayor of Seattle in 1962 as one of the original members of the Seattle Human Rights Commission. He was instrumental in writing the Open Housing Law for the City of Seattle. He was a very active participant in the ACLU and served as president of the local chapters of B'nai Brith and the Anti-Defamation League. Howard was known by all for having the highest ethical standards as a lawyer and as a person in general. He served as chair of the Washington State Bar Association Ethic Committee. He was recognized for his lifetime of achievement by the Washington State Trial Lawyers Association with the Professionalism Award in 1996 which is rarely given. Inscribed on that award are the words "An esteemed student of the law, who for nearly 50 years has championed the cause of the injured and oppressed with the highest degree of skill, compassion and honesty." He was also named the Outstanding Lawyer by the King County Bar Association in 2002 for a lifetime of achievement in the law. Howard was predeceased by his wife Inge to whom he was lovingly devoted for over 60 years and his brother Irving Pruzan. He is survived by his brother Carl Pruzan and by his son Steve (Janet Abrams), his daughter Cathy (Jeff Gustafson) his grandchildren, Amy, Alex, Max and Leah, who adored him and his great grandson Jayden. He was dearly loved by all of his family and especially all of his nieces and nephews on both sides of the family. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and by all those he touched in his personal and professional life. The family would like to give special thanks to his doctors, Gary Schuster and Peter Demopolis as well as to all of the care givers at the Jewish Family Service who were so wonderful to him and to Inge. We would also like to thank all those at the Summit who made the last part of Howard's life so great. He truly loved his time there having fun with the people and being able to pursue his lifelong interest in art. Donations in his honor can be made to the Jewish Family Service, Kline Galland-Summit at First and Temple de Hirsch Sinai or to any charity that works to improve the lives of the less fortunate as he did for his entire lifetime. The funeral will be held at the Butterworth-Arthur Wright Chapel located at 520 West Raye St., Seattle, Washington at 11:00 a.m. Friday, February, 25, 2011.