Jamie had two professional careers, both propelled by her life-long love of education. She began by studying geology, receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Washington (1976) and Dartmouth (1981). Always an outdoorswoman, she enjoyed her work as a field geologist in southeast Alaska and Idaho (1981-1984). Eager for yet more adventure, she finished her geology activities as an oil well logging engineer in Prudhoe Bay, Alaska (1984-1988). Along the way, she built her own cabin in the wilderness near Anchorage and even found time to earn a pilot’s license.
Jamie loved geology and her life in Alaska but saw the mining industry slow to a crawl. So, at the age of 37 she returned to the University of Washington to acquire new skills, this time receiving bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mechanical engineering (1993, 1995). During this second career, she was employed as a mechanical engineer by The Boeing Company in Everett, Washington (1996-1999), and by a startup pharmaceutical company, Tamer International in Seattle (2000-2004). While at the UW, she met Joe. They were married in 1993.
Above all, she delighted in being with friends and family. Jamie enjoyed biking, including tours in Europe and Canada, snowboarding with the J-Club, kayaking, winemaking, zoo walking, and long road trips. She was always brave, kind, and true. She will be missed by all.
She is survived by her husband Joseph Garbini, sister Ann Leschen, sister Alison Leschen and husband Scott Lindell, nieces Anna Leschen-Lindell, Kallie Leschen-Lindell, and Sarah Weber, nephew John Weber, and many friends.
A celebration of Jamie’s life is being planned for Spring.
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