Martin Alexander Sangster

Marty was born on March 15, 1926, in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. His parents moved to Tacoma, Washington in 1928 where Marty attended Franklin Grade School, Jason Lee Intermediate, Stadium High School (Class of 44') before entering the United States Army Air Corps. He served in the Army Air Corps from 1944 to 1946, training to be a Gunner Sergeant on a B-24 and then on a B-29. He achieved the rank of Sergeant with the accompanying medals and received an honorable discharge June 29, 1946, shortly after the Atom Bomb was dropped. He attended the College of Puget Sound for two years, where he majored in sciences. He was active in Kappa Sigma Fraternity, ran on the track team, and enjoyed participating in intramural sports. He then transferred to the University of Washington where he changed majors to two years of Business Administration.

He entered business with the Foster and Kleiser Company and was with them for 23 years. He rose to the post of Vice President of Public Relations, having spent eight years in southern California with Foster & Kleiser before returning to its Seattle office for family reasons. He continued to work with it's successor company, Ackerly Communications. He later accepted a position with the Washington Trucking Association, and was elected to serve as their Vice President and CEO for a period of fifteen years prior to his retirement. His experience in lobbying with these companies served him well, as he was recognized in Olympia as one of the principal lobbyists with strong background knowledge in city, county, state, and federal legislative programs. He was active in highway matters throughout his 40 years of governmental activities. He served as Chairman of the Transportation Committee of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce for three years; Chairman of the Washington State Chapter of the Highway Users Federation; served as a long time member of the Board of Directors of the Washington State Good Roads and Transportation Associations; as well as serving on several citizens' committees and legislative advisory committees dealing with highway matters for the Legislature and the Washington State Department of Transportation, formulating policies for transportation. Martin was a long-time member of the Tacoma Elks, the Washington Athletic Club, and the Rainier Golf and Country Club. He also participated actively in the Kiwanis Club, having been the Vice President of the Ventura, California Kiwanis Club and a member of the Los Angeles Kiwanis Club and the Seattle Downtown Kiwanis Club

Marty's favorite sports were golf and football...playing golf from age 15, and enjoying a 40-year membership at Rainier G&CC. Marty and his wife Cathy enjoyed traveling, both alone and with family, visiting areas of Europe, South and Central America, Hawaii and Mexico.

Marty is survived by his wife, Catherine Sangster (nee Mayo); Sons Robert Sangster and wife Carole, Scott Sangster, , and Daniel Sangster; and his sister, Margaret Burk, his nephews and nieces James Burk, Philip Burk, and Julie Sorensen. He was predeceased by his niece, Janet Cross. His sons, of whom he was most proud, are the progeny of Martin and his first wife, Kay Sangster (nee Blunck), of Seattle, who passed away in 1971.

A Memorial service will be held for family and friends at Sunset Hills Memorial Park in Bellevue on Friday, May 20 at 12:30pm. Anyone wishing to leave a remembrance, can do so through the Sunset Hills Funeral Home website.