Kenneth M. McCaffree

He was a gentle man with a big heart for his family and friends.

Having just returned home to Washington for good following a 26 year career in health care politics in Michigan, I stumbled across Ken and Mary Ellen's wonderful account of her legislative work, "The Politics of the Possible," which also pays homage to the public service of their extraordinary colleagues Dan Evans, Slade Gorton, Joel Pritchard. As a UW student and recruit to work for the Legislature I was only vaguely aware of the high bar Ken and Mary Ellen set for public service and did...

I think I can speak for my entire family in extending condolences and recalling positive memories about Ken -- going back to the 1950's in the University District where we socialized with his family. My father (Robert J. Lampman) was Ken's economics colleague and friend for years, and I and my siblings were neighborhood compadres with Jim, Chuck, Nancy, Mary, and David. As late as 1970 he was patient with and helpful to me personally. Bravo to a real gentleman scholar.

James Lampman,...

I well remember this loving man and his wonderful family all through my MYF years at U.Temple in Seattle. It didn't bother Ken or Mary Ellen, his wife, to add more seats for an imprompto lunch at their back porch picnic table if friends showed up.
I am Chuck's age, and my sister, Lynn Edwards Miller is Jim's age. Our brother, Carl Edwards was later in line.
I know you will miss your father so lean on each other for support.
Fondly, Jan Edwards Wilson

We have all lost one fine man. I was just out of college and served as a Precinct Committeeman for the GOP in District 32-B. Phinney Ridge near Woodland Park Zoo. Ken and MaryEllen were our GOP leaders. 1966.

They taught us newly elected party workers many many things. I was always impressed with the teamwork, honesty, integrity and love that was evident in the McCaffree basement. We stuffed envelopes, made signs, organized coffee hours.............you name it.

I will...

Allison and all --
This is what I sent out to the moderate Republicans around the state:
Mainstreamers
After a long, happy, exceptionally productive life, Ken McCaffree died at the age of 96. We lost another of the great ones from the Dan Evans gubernatorial era.
Ken's wife, Mary Ellen, served in the legislature with Dan, Slade and Joel. She was on Gov. Spellman's cabinet. She was staff director for Slade's U. S. Senate office.
Ken was always behind the scenes helping...

At the UW in 1971 I took a class in Labor Economics taught by Dr McCaffree. An upper level graduate class ( Econ 512 ? ) I decidedly did not belong in the class having just that quarter transfered to the UW from Shoreline CC. I was able to wing it through the class discussions until I was inevitably caught when I failed the midterm miserably.
I explained the situation to Dr McCaffree and through his ( gruff ) kindness he suggested an incomplete( rather than a failure ) assigned a...