Jay E Bachrach

Jay E. Bachrach died May 13, 2010. He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in late February.

Born in Louisville, Kentucky on August 30, 1931, he lived there for five years until his family moved to Salem, Indiana where his parents opened a women's clothing store. He attended a military school for his first two years of high school then on to the University of Chicago under the Hutchins plan. He completed his B.A. degree at Indiana University in 1956 and entered the graduate program in philosophy at Columbia University where he earned a Ph.D. in 1967. Jay started his teaching career in 1959 as a lecturer at City College of New York and Hunter College (both now part of City University of New York). Then two years at Colby College in Maine and three years at Rutgers University in Newark, New Jersey before coming to Central Washington State College in 1967 (one of the smartest moves of his life, he believed). He retired as Professor Emeritus from the Philosophy Department eleven years ago, then taught in phased retirement until 2005.

Forty years ago, he ran for County Commissioner on a slate of clean air, clean water. He started, along with others, the Kittitas County Preservation Society. He was appointed by the governor to serve on the County Boundary Review Board.

Jay pursued a lifetime love of learning, reading and teaching. Since moving to Ellensburg, he and his family enjoyed being part of a small town and working on their farm in the beautiful Kittitas Valley. He was extremely proud of the achievements of his sons and their families. What has given him the greatest pleasure is that all members of his family love learning.

He is survived by Helen, his beloved wife of 47 years, by their son Max, daughter-in-law Chelsea, grandchildren Annabelle (4) and Elizabeth (3) in The Woodlands, Texas, and by their son Ethan, daughter-in-law Erin, grandchildren Sidney (9) and Robert Jacob (Jake) (8) in West Richland, Washington.

He was predeceased by his parents Max and Leona Bachrach and older brother, Ronald.

Jay's last message to his loved ones and friends was enjoy a walk in the warm sunlight. By his request, there will be no memorial. He suggested donations to the Ellensburg Public Library, 209 N. Ruby St., for the purchase of books.