Richard W. Weiland

Richard W. WEILAND "When we are born we come into this world crying surrounded by smiling faces. May we live our lives so that when we die we leave this world smiling surrounded by all who weep." - Persian proverb Partner, uncle, friend and quiet Seattle philanthropist, Ric Weiland passed away at his home on Saturday, June 24. Born April 21, 1953, he was 53 years old. One of the very first employees of Microsoft, Weiland attended Lakeside School in Seattle with Bill Gates and Paul Allen, graduated from Stanford with a degree in electrical engineering in 1976, and was among the first five employees of the company after it was founded in Albuquerque. Throughout the 1970's he worked at Microsoft on programming, business operations and recruiting and hiring staff. Weiland worked on different versions of BASIC, later concentrated on COBOL and moved back to Seattle with Microsoft in 1979. Weiland later attended Harvard Business School, and rejoined Microsoft in 1982, where he worked until 1988. Ric was a quiet, generous man who gave from his heart to many charitable organizations throughout the nation, including Stanford University, the Pride Foundation, UWKC, Lambda Legal, Lifelong AIDS Alliance, the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, GLSEN, GLAAD, AmFAR, The Audubon Society and many more too numerous to list. He is survived by a loving family, his partner, Mike Schaefer of Seattle, his nieces, Emily Smelser, Heidi Kupitz and grand-nephew, Josiah Kupitz, and nephews, Fred Smelser, Henry Smelser. Photos, cards and flowers may be sent to the University Congregational United Church of Christ where a private gathering of family and close friends is scheduled for Friday, June 30th. Ric's wish is for all of us to think generously of the charities of our choice as often as we can. A community memorial service will be scheduled for later this summer. Details will be announced at a later time.