Obituary of Gary Robert William Slater

Gary Robert William Slater passed away peacefully after a long, valiant fight with pancreatic cancer on August 9, 2020.  Gary was born to Richard and Delores Dix Slater on December 5, 1953 in Seattle, Washington.

 

Gary graduated from Federal Way High School in 1971 and then enrolled at Green River Community College.  Thereafter, he attended the University of Washington, becoming the first in his family to go to college.  His passion for learning led him to earn his law degree from the University of Puget Sound School of Law (now the Seattle University School of Law).  Gary practiced family law as an associate with Doug Albert, eventually becoming a partner (Albert & Slater).  He practiced law for over 35 years, through which he loved listening to people’s stories and learning about their lives.

 

On June 24, 1989, Gary married Robin Shantelle Burcham, who survives.  Together, they had one daughter in 1993 who also survives, Erin (James) Slater-Wu of Fremont, California.  Also surviving are two dear brothers, Kevin Slater and Mark (Marie) Slater, both of Federal Way, and many cherished friends and relations.

 

Gary was a voracious reader, a passionate genealogist, politically active, and a lover of travel and world cultures.  Destinations among his travels included Australia, all over Europe (most recently to Paris and London with his daughter), and the Middle East.  One of his fondest travel memories was his three-month “Grand Tour” shortly after taking the bar exam, in which he totted his second-hand canvas backpack from Scotland to Israel (with stops in Africa and more), all while sleeping in train stations and carefully counting his sparse budget.  He lived a full, adventurous life that included running with the bulls in Pamplona, climbing Mt. Rainier, and running a half marathon (subsequently falling asleep on a couch with pizza in hand).

 

Gary’s love of learning was evidenced in how he seemed to absorb the words and wisdom from book pages.  He kept many logs of meaningful quotes from historical and public figures, and he could recall historical facts and relate them to current affairs with analytical accuracy.  At the same time, he had an uncanny ability to name for you the mascot of almost any given college or small town sports team.  Indeed, knowledge, for Gary, took on many forms.

 

Writing was another passion of Gary’s, as he documented life’s milestones, mishaps, and memories through countless letters and cards.  He crafted thoughtful notes for family and friends around the world, always finding the right words to comfort, encourage, or celebrate.  

 

In addition, Gary was an avid sports fan of both local (Huskies) and more obscure (All Blacks) teams.  He traveled far and wide to cheer on his daughter’s softball teams, from club to college, even serving a stint as the official team statistician.  Gary loved golf, and also organized his own golf tournament, Benjamin Braddock Best Ball, for over 30 years.

 

He was a man of wit, humor, and deep-reaching empathy; a loyal friend, loving husband, and caring father.  He cared deeply for the state of the world and firmly believed in the pursuit of justice and integrity.  He loved and laughed generously, and he will be dearly missed.

 

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Floyd & Delores Jones Cancer Institute at Virginia Mason or the Progessive Animal Welfare Society.  To honor Gary’s memory, we ask that you light a candle the next time you are gathered with loved ones and reflect on a favorite memory you shared with him.

 

“Tomorrow there’ll be sunshine, and all this darkness past.” - Bruce Springsteen

 

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