Gordon E. Hungar

Gordon E. HUNGAR, DDS Born September 12, 1926, in Everett, WA, Dr. Gordon Hungar passed away on April 29, 2008, at Northwest Hospital in Seattle from an unusual and rapid-acting form of cancer. He attended Lake Stevens High School (class of '44), Whitman College, the University of Washington (Class of '48), and the U.W. School of Dentistry (Class of ‘57). He met his wife of 54 years, Julie, when he was a teacher and coach at Mt. Vernon High School. They have lived in Lake Forest Park for the past 35 years. Gordon's athletic career was always a source of pride and his support of Husky football was unwavering. He played baseball and football at Whitman College, and at the U.W. he lettered in football from 1946 to1949. He became a favorite of local sportswriters in 1946 after scoring the winning touchdown in the last 30 seconds of the first Apple Cup after World War II and was dubbed the "Last Minute Kid" by Royal Brougham of the Seattle P-I. He was president of his fraternity, Beta Theta Pi, and vice president of the U.W. class of 1948. In 2007 he was elected to the Purple and Gold Hall of Fame at Lake Stevens High School, where he had been Student Body President, Class Valedictorian, and earned three letters in football and basketball and four in baseball. His professional career as a dentist spanned over 50 years. He practiced general dentistry first in Seattle and then Mountlake Terrace, retiring from his practice in 1999. He was an adjunct faculty member of the UW School of Dentistry and was past president of the Snohomish County Dental Society and the Washington State Academy of General Dentistry. For the past decade Gordon provided charity dentistry with Northwest Medical Teams. His dedication to the community included past service as a member of the Lake Forest Park City Council and the Lake Forest Park Planning Commission, and he was a charter member of the Lake Forest Park Rotary Club for the past 20 years. At his death he was serving as president of the Lake Forest Park Water District Board of Commissioners, having been elected for 5 terms. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and as an active reserve officer from 1949 to 1957. In addition to his wife Julie, Gordon is survived by children Ann (Brian) of Bothell, Susan (Cary) of Sydney, Australia, Tom (Jaye) of Washington, D.C., and Paula (Pat) of Ellensburg, as well as sister Dorothy Jubb (Lake Stevens) and brothers George (East Sound) and Gene (Kirkland). A favorite pastime was bragging about his nine grandchildren, Dylan, Jordan, Chiara, Kacy, Lance, Claire, Paige, Brett and Jasper. The family is grateful for the loving care of Dr. David Dong and the physicians, nurses, and staff at Northwest Hospital who cared for Gordon during his sudden and untimely illness. We ask that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Rota-Care Clinic, Box 55983, Seattle 98155, or the Puget Sound Blood Center, 921 Terry, Seattle 98104. Donations of blood, for those who are able to do so, would be appreciated by his family. A Memorial and Celebration of his life will be held Thursday, May 8, at 4:00p.m. at the Nile Country Club, 6601 244th Ave SW, Mountlake Terrace, WA.