Eleanor May Hageman

Eleanor was born in Indianapolis, Indiana to Robert and Ruth May Armstrong. Robert and Ruth May raised Eleanor and her three sisters in Indianapolis spending glorious summers at their second home on Lake Wawasee, in Northern Indiana.

A graduate of Shortridge High School, Eleanor attended Butler University, then transferred to Indiana University and earned a BA degree in Education in 1949. She was a member of the Kappa Alpha Theta Sorority which she tremendously enjoyed. After graduation, she perused the classified ads in the Indianapolis Star newspaper looking for teaching opportunities. One far-flung job destination intrigued her – the Seattle School District was hiring new teachers to meet a growing school population. After applying, interviewing over the phone and being accepted, Eleanor, 22 years old, boarded a train and rode it for 2-1/2 days with 62 stops, ending in Seattle.

In advance of her arrival, the Seattle School District matched her with another newly arriving teacher from Atlanta, Joyce Christenson. The two roomed together in a Wallingford apartment, their friendship grew and they became lifelong friends. In 1950 she attended a ballroom mixer where she met her future husband, Bob Hageman, who also became a Seattle School teacher. In the 1950’s, she gave birth to her three sons, Scott, Brad and Mark. Every summer, the family boarded the same train that Eleanor rode to Seattle in 1949 and went back to Indiana. The family joined their grandparents, aunts & uncles and cousins at Lake Wawasee creating fond family memories while waterskiing, eating at the Foo and Faye Restaurant and catching fireflies.

Family was everything to Eleanor. It was her tremendous love, caring and support that helped develop her three sons into the men they are today.

Eleanor was a dedicated and passionate teacher for 33 years and taught at 14 different Seattle elementary public schools. In 1960, she joined the Women’s University Club (WUC) in downtown Seattle, where she was an active member for 61 years. Eleanor chaired countless committees and was a Trustee for special events from 1991-1993. She was also actively involved in Ryther for many years and was a member of the University Christian Church and University Presbyterian Church in Seattle’s University District.

Both Eleanor and Bob enjoyed traveling together with two other couples, the Bob Dennison and Bob Meyer Families aka “The Three Bobs.” The couples traveled together to Europe, Hawaii and other interesting destinations for more than 20 years. After their traveling years, they moved from their home in Seattle’s View Ridge neighborhood to live at Park Shore in Madison Park where they enjoyed music, the weekly clubs and fellowship. Eleanor passed away while living at Peace and Comfort in Bothell, WA. The family thanks Ruth and the caretakers for their genuine love, care and compassion while she resided there.

Eleanor will be sorely missed by her family and many friends!

Eleanor was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Hageman and her three sisters, Elizabeth, Martha and Katie. She is survived by her three sons and daughters-in-law, Scott (Susan), Brad and Mark (Patricia). She’s also survived by four grandsons: Justin, Riley, Dylan and Alec. Remembrances may be sent to the Women’s University Club, 1105 6th Avenue, #301, Seattle, WA 98101 or Ryther Services , 2400 NE 95th Street, Seattle, WA 98115. A memorial service will be held mid-December and Eleanor will be interned at Evergreen Washelli Cemetery in North Seattle.