Gretel Motulsky

April 3 1924 - September 17 2009

Gretel Motulsky died peacefully, aged 85, close to the side of her husband Arno and three children Judy, (Kauai) Harvey (Seattle) and Arlene (London UK). Arno and Gretel have six grandchildren ranging from 6 to 27.

She was born in Offenbach, Germany. In 1938, she traveled to England on the British organized 'Kinder Transport', without her family, to escape persecution of the Jews and the coming holocaust. A year later she moved to Chicago. In college, she met Arno, a fellow refugee. They were married in 1945 and moved to Seattle in 1953.

Gretel was a CPA, and in fact, had been the youngest CPA in Illinois. She was the accountant and auditor for Kline Gallant Home in Seattle for many years. After her children grew, Gretel went to the UW and received a BA in Economics and studied Art History. She also worked as a docent with the Seattle Art Museum. Up through the last months of her life, she loved going to museums and sharing her passionate love of art with close friends.

Gretel was devoted to Arno for 64 years and strongly supported his scientific career as an internationally recognized medical geneticist. She is well remembered for her hospitality and support to post-doctoral trainees that came to the UW from the USA and abroad for their training in medical genetics. Gretel's hospitality was enjoyed, along with her great cooking, by many colleagues and friends.

Gretel was the cornerstone of her family. A devoted mother, she said her deepest life fulfillment came from seeing her children and grandchildren gather together, to watch them grow and develop their unique personalities and gifts. She loved Seattle and the Northwest. Recalling the wild flowers of Mt. Rainier brought a gleam to her eyes even in her final days. She enjoyed travels with Arno all over the world, visiting art museums in Europe and Asia, hiking in Switzerland, visiting Galapagos Islands and more. She and Arno shared their joy of travel with friends and arranged family reunions in wonderful places.

The last two years, Gretel and Arno lived in an apartment at Horizon House. Gretel enjoyed taking part in a Bridge group, exercise class, discussions about books and seeing films, and being with her friends.

Gretel had sharp intelligence and wit, and was deeply generous, compassionate, tender, loyal and ever modest. She ceaselessly cared about others. In spite of the limitations from her pain and mobility difficulties for 15 years, she inspired those around her, modeling what it means to have courage, devotion and unwavering focus, right up to her last moments.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that memorial donations be sent to a charity of your choice, or to the University of Washington - Arno and Gretel Motulsky Lecture Fund. Gretel was honored this June at the first presentation by Nobel prize winner, Joseph Goldstein, who trained with Arno. This fund, established last year to honor both Gretel and Arno, will bring in annual lecturers, selected by post-doctorate students of medical genetics.