Donald James Elmer

Donald Elmer was born on October 13, 1948 in Centralia, Washington and passed away in his home in Seattle on February 10, 2026 at age 77. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, cousin, uncle, and friend.

He grew up in Tacoma, Washington, where he graduated from Wilson High School and was a member of the varsity swim team. His love of family, dogs, baseball, and classic car restoration accompanied him his entire life.

After graduating from Western Washington University, he was awarded a master’s degree in economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. He returned to Seattle, where he pursued a career in business, starting at Price Waterhouse, then managing the Alpental ski area, and working in consulting before founding the venture capital firm Pacific Horizon Ventures, which he led for the following decades.

Don was driven to understand the world. As a little boy, he taught himself about geopolitics by reading Time Magazine. As an adult, he added volume upon volume of political and military history to the mix of newspapers and journals, and he traveled near and far to see things with his own eyes. Through the annual family summer road trip, with minutely planned itineraries to maximize baseball stadiums, key river crossings, and Revolutionary and Civil War battlefields, he passed this interest down to his daughters. He later shared his love of travel with the love of his life, visiting 77 countries with his wife Tricia during their 29 years together.

His analytical and intellectual curiosity was matched by mechanical inclination and an aptitude for recognizing potential. The same quality that led him to venture capital guided him in many other areas of life. He bought his first car in bucket loads: the 1933 Auburn-turned-chicken coop held promise. Sixty years later, the parts had been assembled, the body meticulously painted, and the engine rehabilitated, finally turning over. Alongside the intermittent Auburn work, Don filled his spare time with gardening, home improvements, and generous offers to perform haircuts or even dental work in the downstairs shop.

The hard work and perseverance he brought to his various endeavors were matched by a deep generosity and loyalty to those he cared for. When he sensed strong commitment in others to a project or goal—be it building a tree house or completing a PhD—he did what he could to support and guide: “if it’s worth it to you, it’s worth it to me.” He could be patient when it mattered (successfully teaching more than one person to drive a manual transmission), though he didn’t always restrain his somewhat irreverent sense of humor. Above all, he was guided by a profound integrity.

He is survived by his wife Tricia Elmer, his two daughters, Hannah Elmer and Sally Midgley, son-in-law John Midgley, grandsons Tom and Will Midgley, and black lab Lucy.

A service is being planned for June but no date has been set yet. More details will be provided at a later time.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Seattle Humane Society - see the link below.

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