David Robert "Dave" Carlstrom

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, David "Dave" Robert Carlstrom graduated from Huntington High School ('67), Cornell University – BS electrical engineering ('71, with honors), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary – MA New Testament studies ('74, summa cum laude), and the University of Washington – MBA marketing ('82, with honors).

While in undergraduate school he spent a semester on the technical staff of ELWA, a missionary radio station in Monrovia, Liberia. He also spent a summer in Japan doing construction work on a missionary's home outside Tokyo.

While in seminary he got involved with a Boston-based Christian media production group - initially as a roadie for "Cry 3," a then state-of-the-art multi-screen evangelistic show, subsequently as the show's booking manager, and finally as marketing director for the company's nascent electronics hardware.

In 1974 he married Nancy (nee White) with whom he raised two boys, Jesse (now a sales executive for Tote Maritime) and Josh (now a captain for Alaska Airlines).

In 1976 he was recruited to work for Intercristo, a Christian personnel recruitment and career development ministry in Seattle with which he served in a variety of capacities for eleven years.

In 1987 he gave rein to his lifelong aspiration to work in commercial aviation when he accepted a two year assignment as the first marketing director for Fairbanks International Airport in Alaska. Buoyed by sales and promotion success, one thing led to another and his tenure lasted almost 18 years. Dave and Nancy's boys grew up in Fairbanks - Jesse distinguished himself as a cross country skier (and eventual two-time All American in college) and Josh learned to fly. Nancy wrote over 50 published children's books during the family's Alaska years.

In 2004 the boys were in college, and Dave and Nancy returned to Seattle.

In 2009 Dave became CEO of Air Serv International, a not-for-profit humanitarian air service operating primarily in East Africa that was on the cusp of bankruptcy. Over the next seven years he led the organization back to financial and operational health.

Dave's hobbies and pastimes included sailing, cycling, flying and crossword puzzles.

Dave is survived by his wife of 50 years, Nancy; sons, Jesse and Josh; grandchildren, Mattias, Rafael and Linnea; and siblings, Marilyn, Norman and Janet.

A celebration of life will be held at 2 p.m. Feb. 8 at Bethany Presbyterian Church, 1818 Queen Anne Ave. N., Seattle, WA 98109.