Allan Vannice Gibbs

Longtime Tacoma resident Allan Vannice Gibbs, father and journalist, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 2, at Providence Hospital in Everett. He was 73 years old. Born in Huron, South Dakota, to parents Darrell and Esther Gibbs, Al moved to Tacoma in 1960 to attend the University of Puget Sound, where he graduated in 1962 with degrees in English literature and psychology. While still in college, he began what would become a 43-year career with The News Tribune, starting as a sports copy boy, then working his way into the newsroom. His “beats” were widely varied over his long career, ranging from state and local politics to Northwest energy, agricultural issues and, most recently, the Port of Tacoma. He retired in 2004. An avid outdoorsman, he was one of the early members of the Tacoma Mountaineers and Tacoma Mountain Rescue and summitted all of the major peaks of the Washington and Oregon Cascades, including winter ascents of Mount Rainier. A competitive sailor, he sailed in every major long-distance yacht race in the Puget Sound and southern British Columbia regions, culminating in the biennial Victoria-to-Maui classic. Off the racecourse, he could often be found cruising, or “gunkholing” as he would say, the bays, inlets and islands of Puget Sound and the San Juan and Gulf Islands with his sons or, during the stormier months, exploring the rugged coastlines of Oregon and Washington. Allan is survived by his three sons, Patrick, of Everett, Wa.; Mark, of Seaside, Calif.; and Paul, of Jacksonville, Fla. He is also survived by six grandchildren and two ex-wives, both of whom would be more than pleased to discuss his myriad shortcomings at length. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Alzheimer’s Association at www.alz.org. Arrangements being cared for under the direction of Evergreen Funeral Home, www,evergreen-fh.com.