October 2004

In Memoriam

Jeff Adatto

Assistant Attorney General Ray Hinea III contributed this remembrance of a friend and colleague.

It is my sad duty to report to the members of the Bar the passing of our good friend and colleague Jeff Adatto. Jeff lost his battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) on Monday, July 12, 2004, comforted by the presence of his family and close friends. He is survived by his wife, Lisa; his children, Daniel and Suzanne; as well and his parents, brother, and sister.

Jeff was a 20-year veteran of the Washington State Attorney General's Office. For close to 18 years, he was the section chief of the Vancouver office, managing a staff of attorneys, paralegals, and legal assistants while carrying a caseload of his own. He also served on the Clark County Bar's Superior Court Bench/Bar Committee. His failing health forced him to step down from managing the office in July 2003. However, he continued to work from home until the end of that year, providing advice and mentorship to the attorneys who took over his cases.

Jeff primarily practiced in the area of workers' compensation law, representing the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries before the Board of Industrial Insurance Appeals and in Superior Court. His expertise in this area of law was well known. His advice and mentorship was sought out by other assistant attorneys general from around the state and by local private-practice attorneys. He was respected by his adversaries and judges, both for his comprehensive knowledge of the law and for his ability to inject his sense of humor at the appropriate time. 

The staff who worked for him knew him as a compassionate supervisor. He deeply cared for everyone's welfare and ensured that their family concerns were treated as a higher priority than the demands of the workload. This created an intense loyalty by staff members: "You worked hard so as not to disappoint him."

Jeff was a graduate of Lewis and Clark School of Law. Upon his acceptance into the Washington State Bar, Jeff worked for Evergreen Legal Services in Wenatchee. In 1982, he moved to Vancouver and joined the firm of Fritzler and Hall. He joined the Attorney General's Office on April 1, 1983.

Jeff had many passions outside of his professional life. His greatest passion was his love for his family. There was never any question that they came first in his life. His other interests included movies, music, and good food and drink enjoyed in the company of friends. His knowledge of trivia would have made him a finalist in any Jeopardy competition.

Jeff will always be thought of by his friends and colleagues as a good friend, a just man, and a gentle man.

Hon. Thomas D. Coughlin

Tom Coughlin juggled many roles and several careers. He grew up in Wenatchee, attended Seattle Prep, Gonzaga, and UW Law School. He practiced in Seattle with Abbott Curtis & Coughlin beginning in 1965, and Mullavey Hageman Prout Kirkland & Coughlin from 1971 to 1980. From 1980 to 1984 he and his wife owned and operated a hardware store in Stanwood and lived on Camano Island, after which he resumed the practice of law until he became an Island County District Court judge (commissioner) in 2000. He had been a regular pro tem judge in both Island County and Cascade District Courts for many years. He was Stanwood's city attorney for years, and active in St. Cecilia's Catholic Church, local senior groups, and the local food bank. Tom was an avid fisherman, poker player, cook, and patriarch.

Tom died on August 23, 2004, of heart failure on his commute between Oak Harbor and a church group function on Camano Island. He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Lynda Jo; son, Clancy (Kimberlee); daughter, Sara (Mark); daughter, Kate (Doug); and four grandchildren.

Hon. Eugene G. Cushing

Major general, U.S. Army Reserve; Superior Court judge; beloved husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather passed away on August 26, 2004. Born in Portland, Oregon, August 24, 1905, Gene had just turned 99.

He worked his way through the University of Washington playing the trombone with Seattle's "Big Bands" and received his law degree in 1929. His professional career was extensive, beginning with five years of law practice and seven years as prosecuting attorney in Vancouver, WA. Then, during World War II he served five years as a staff judge advocate, U.S. Army. Finally, returning to Vancouver in 1945, he was elected Superior Court judge, Clark County, serving 21 years on the bench. In 1966, he was appointed U.S. attorney for the Western District of Washington, serving three and a half years in the position in Seattle. The next five years he became a Superior Court judge, pro tem, King County, then was elected for an additional four years to serve on the King County Superior Court.

Honors received include the Legion of Merit Medal for Meritorious Service in WWII, and Legion of Merit Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster for services as commanding general of the 104th "Timberwolf" Division.

Gene held the following offices: first president of the Vancouver American Rose Society; president of the Senior Reserve Commanders Association of U.S. Army Reserve; president of the Superior Court Judges Association, State of Washington; and president of the Prosecuting Attorneys Association, State of Washington.

In 1965, on active duty training at Fort Lewis, General Cushing addressed his command of troops: "Today, as in the past, there are still many tasks to be accomplished by the members of this outstanding organization. Should continued sacrifices be called for, I am confident that the members of the 'Timberwolf' Division can and will live up to our present motto 'Do It.'"

Gene continued to "Do It" his entire life. He is survived by his wife, Ruth Hightower Cushing, married 73 years; children Kevin G. Cushing, Darryl E. Cushing, and Deberah Cushing Fox; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
 
William L. Maltman

Longtime Seattle attorney Bill Maltman graduated from the University of Oregon, Phi Beta Kappa and Beta Gamma Sigma. He served in the U.S. Army Intelligence in WW II and with the Judge Advocate General in the Korean War. Bill attended Stanford Law School and was a graduate of George Washington School of Law. He practiced in Seattle for over 40 years. He was an initial partner of Hennings, Maltman, Weber and Reed (today Reed, Longyear, Malnati & Ahrens, PLLC).

Survivors include his wife, children, and grandchildren. Bill also leaves behind many dear lifelong friends. At his request, no formal services were held and his ashes were scattered in Puget Sound.

Born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on April 30, 1921, Bill Maltman died July 16, 2004, aged 83, in Seattle.

Hon. Solie Ringold

Solie Ringold spent 16 years on the King County Superior Court bench and 10 more on the Court of Appeals. Son of Russian-born Jews, Ringold is remembered by friends as a "flaming liberal" who helped found the Washington chapter of the ACLU.

Ringold graduated from the University of Washington and obtained his law degree at age 21. He joined the WSBA in 1936 and began his career with the King County Prosecuting Attorney's Office. He rose to become chief of the civil division.

In 1942, Ringold was sent to the Pacific as a member of the Army's counterintelligence corps, and was present for the Japanese surrender in 1945. He returned to Seattle and the prosecutor's office, going into private practice in 1947. He was appointed to the bench in 1961.

Ringold's daughter, Barbara Szpiro, recalled, "there were many years when he was the Jewish judge in Seattle. He always identified with his religion, his community, and Israel. His politics, his legal mind, and his Judaism were intertwined."

Ringold is survived by his wife of 65 years, Marion; three children; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. He was 90 years old when he died Aug. 22, 2004, in Seattle.

Bar News has also been advised of the deaths of the following members:

William E. Eubank, Glendale, AZ, admitted 1952, died July 7, 2004.
Marian C. Gannett, Seattle, admitted 1980, died February 20, 2004.
Robert Sweeney, Spokane, admitted 1961, died March 20, 2004.

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