John Watrous Rumsey

John W. Rumsey Jr. was born and raised in Seattle. He attended Queen Anne High School, Lakeside, and the U.W. where he was a member of the Alpha Delta Phi Fraternity and met his wife, Janet, to whom he was married for 65 years. During WWII, he served in the Coast Guard where he piloted vessels in the San Juan Islands, protecting the coastline. His work career spanned over 70 years. John was owner and President of Rumsey and Co. Construction. Some of his more interesting projects included the Alaskan Way Viaduct, the Battery Street Tunnel, several sections of I-5 through Seattle, and other bridges, tunnels and construction projects throughout Washington, and he recieved a patent for precast retaining walls. During his 7 year stay in Hawaii, he was V.P. of General Construction and Manager of Hawaiian and Pacific Operations and was responsible for over 400 projects. He was President of Citizens Service Corp. and was Construction Coordinator for Evergreen Hospital for 14 years. John was founder of the Seattle Construction Safety Council and was awarded a certificate of merit by WA Dept. of Labor and Industries for safety contributions. He was past president of the Assoc. General Contractors and was awarded the President?s Trophy for outstanding contributions. John served on Citizens Federal Savings & Loan board and W. Washington Laborers-employers Trust Funds board. His affiliations included the A.G.C., the Seattle Chamber of Commerce, the American Arbitration Assoc., the Seattle Tennis Club, the Honolulu Pacific Club, and the University Presbyterian Church. He loved boating, tennis, music, playing piano and guitar. John organized a small band of co-workers and friends and enjoyed playing at social gatherings. He recently built a dock and developed a park-like area for his townhouse assoc. in Bothell where he has lived with his wife Janet for the past 25 years. He was a member of the Northshore YMCA and involved with the Northshore Senior Center where he volunteered his time to assist with construction projects.

John was a creative thinker who approached life with enthusiasm and humor, and he will be greatly missed. He is survived by his sister Janice, hi wife Janet, his sons John Maureen and Michael Judy, his daughters Fran Mack and Rebecca Mefford Dennis; grandchildren Erin, Stephanie, Cynthia, Darren, Esther, Sean, Shannon, Melissa, Benjamin; and great-grandchildren Jordan, Paul, Nikki, Colten and Henry. A memorial service will be held at University Presbyterian Church www.upc.org, 4540 15th Ave NE, April 3, at 1:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Fred Hutchinson or Evergreen Healthcare Foundation.

Please sign John's memorial guestbook.