Charles "Chuck" Paul Sitkin

Chuck Sitkin passed peacefully in his sleep on March 21 at his Seattle home from complications arising from pancreatic cancer. During his final days he was comforted by family and loved ones at his side. He was 86.

Chuck was born on May 5, 1934 in Washington D.C. to Rose Sinrod and Morris Sitkin. He was raised in Arlington, VA. He graduated from Washington-Lee High School where he was a member of the rowing team.

Chuck attended Lafayette College where he was a member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity and Army ROTC. Chuck graduated in 1956 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He later earned a Master of Business Administration from the University of Washington.

After college, Chuck served in the US Army in Germany as a Captain in the Army Corps of Engineers rising to become Engineering War Planning Officer for the 3rd Infantry Division and a General's Aide de Camp to General B.F. Taylor, Assistant Division Commander and Chief of Staff of the 2nd Corp.. While in Germany, Chuck met his first wife, Phyllis Anne Kolb. They returned to the United States in 1961, settling in Bellevue, WA where they raised their two children, Jon and Suzanne.

Chuck worked at the Boeing Company upon his return to the United States and later helped start Boeing Consulting Services. He then began a career as a management consultant and the Alaska phase of his life.

While in Alaska, Chuck's clients included Anchorage Mayor Tony Knowles, State Governor Bill Sheffield and a variety of Alaskan Native Corporations. It was also in Alaska that he met Carolyn Guess, his second wife and the love of his life, creating a blended family that continues today. Chuck and Carolyn settled into retirement in Madison Park, Seattle. There they enjoyed together a life of travel and blended family dinners and holidays that were a source of great political and sports debate. In 1995 Carolyn succumbed to cancer.

Chuck enjoyed traveling all over the world, first with Carolyn, then with his companion Susan Thomas and, after her passing, with Edie Lackland, his loving companion of nearly 20 years. Chuck would bring home art, gifts and treasures to tell many a story about.

Chuck enjoyed spending time with family and friends; expanding his blended family; and donating his time and commitment to helping the arts community in Seattle. In the late 1990s, Chuck became a part owner in the Skunk Bay Lighthouse on the Kitsap Peninsula where he enjoyed many weekends with Edie and others. Chuck found joy in nurturing new friendships and maintaining the special friendships of the past. The home gardens he created over the years was something he was proud of and a perfect place for him and Edie to enjoy the afternoon sunshine with groups of friends.

From 2002-2020 Chuck served on the board of Town Hall Seattle, a community cultural center featuring politics, science, and arts programming. Chuck's years on the Finance Committee introduced remarkable and sustained growth. Chuck was devoted to Town Hall's role in Seattle's civic and intellectual life; alongside Edie, he sat regularly "down front" for visiting politicians and commentators, scientists and journalists, as well as his beloved chamber concerts. In 2020 he became just the seventh member of the organization's Emeritus Board.

In 2007, Chuck joined ACT Theatre's Board of Trustees. He served as Vice President, President or Chairman from 2009 to 2016 and remained an active member of the Board until 2020. Under Chuck's leadership ACT gained financial and institutional stability.

Chuck was preceded in death by Carolyn Guess and stepson John Guess. He is survived by his sister Adele Dreyer (Peter) of Martha's Vineyard, MA; son Jon (Shari Mays) of Bellingham, WA; daughter Suzanne (Bob Gitre) of San Diego, CA; Carolyn's children Carl Guess (Katy Lloyd) of Seattle, WA; Philip Guess (Alice Ikeda) of Seattle, WA; Gretchen Guess (Jeff Tyson) of Fernandina Beach, FL; and grandchildren Logan Sitkin, Katie Gitre, Tommy Gitre, Liza Gitre, Ben Guess, Greta Guess, Kenji Guess, Carolyn Tyson Guess and Elliot Tyson Guess. Chuck is also survived by his companion of many years, Edie Lackland and her children BJ (Lisa) Lackland and their children, Kira and Kellan, and Ann Lackland and Eric Henry and their daughter Olivia. He is also survived by the children of Susan Thomas, Tom Hoare (Bronwyn Rogers), and their children Flynn and Josie, and Lynn Hoare (Ted Krause), and their children Lilah and Isadora.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. You may share memories at

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/chucksitkin.

To honor and remember Chuck, his extended and blended family ask that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to either: the ACT Theatre at actheatre.org/support or ACT Theater, 700 Union St., Seattle, WA, 98101; or to Town Hall Seattle, 720 Seneca St Suite A, Seattle, WA 98101.