ALAN VANDEVERT

1928 - 2014

Alan Paulsen Vandevert Alan died July 1, 2014 with his wife and soul mate Margaret at his side. Alan was physically active and mentally vibrant until unexpectedly overtaken by pneumonia at age 85. Together, Alan and Margaret lived in Seattle, and traveled the world pursuing their interests in culture and history, always eager to learn and ever fascinated by the people and places they encountered. Alan enjoyed hiking, skiing, gardening, or just being outdoors, and when inside, he loved to cook - spending hours in the kitchen. He was an avid reader and enjoyed his daily foray into The New York Times and the George Washington University journal Foreign Affairs. Alan delighted in spending time with his family and friends, and particularly enjoyed the Skyline Guy Talk forum as an active and enthusiastic participant. Alan always took the extra step in community involvement. He served as chair of the Board of Trustees of Tacoma Community College, chair of the Corporate Practices Committee of the American Society of Corporate Secretaries, and Vestry Senior Warden of the Christ Church of Tacoma. He also enjoyed his work as a volunteer at Harborview and University of Washington Medical Centers, where he received an award of appreciation for over 10 years of dedicated work. Born October 21, 1928 in Bend, OR, Alan grew up in Piedmont, CA. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree at Stanford University in 1950, and his Juris Doctorate from Columbia University Law School in 1954, serving two years in the US Army Infantry between degrees. Alan joined Weyerhaeuser in 1962, serving as Corporate Secretary and Assistant General Counsel, retiring after 31 years in 1993. Alan had three children - Paul, John and Margaret - from his first marriage to Elodie Henriques King. Alan married Margaret vanLeeuwen Buckham in 1990, accepting her three adult children - Judy, Craig and Peggy - as his own. Early in their retirement, Alan and Margaret embraced a second round of parenting for three of their grandchildren - Chris, Amber, and Katrina ages 8, 10 and 13. Alan's passing is deeply felt by his wife, six children, twelve grandchildren, and a four-year-old great grandson. Alan is also survived by his older brother, Vincent from Live Oak, CA, and his cousin, Grace McNellis from Gig Harbor. Remembrances may be made in Alan's name at either Treehouse4kids.org or Big Brothers Big Sisters of Puget Sound, www.bbbsps.org.