October 2005

In Memoriam

G. Edward Friar
A reminiscence by John J. Michalik

Former WSBA Executive Director Eddie Friar passed away on June 18, 2005, at the age of 88. His son Buck (G. Edward Friar Jr.) conveyed the news of Eddie’s passing to me in a letter that noted that his dad “made his exit just the way he lived — with grace and dignity.” He was truly a southern gentleman, a man of many facets, careers, and talents.

Eddie was a Tennessean through and through. He made his name and early fame as a legendary and at times theatrical trial lawyer in that state. He would later serve multiple elected terms as Tennessee’s secretary of state and in 1958 was the unsuccessful democratic candidate for governor. He was for years a raconteur and man about town, including conducting a long-running and popular morning radio show from the breakfast table in his home. He was, in a word, a “fixture” in Tennessee. But life in Tennessee changed for Eddie when his wife passed away. While he was, at that time, the president and chairman of the board of a multi-million dollar corporation with restaurant, motel, and recreational developments across the South, he determined to move on.

And, thus, in 1971, he became only the third executive director in the history of the Washington State Bar Association. He brought his considerable talent for organization and a personal unending work ethic to bear on an organization that evolved to much of what it is today during his tenure. A couple of decades ahead of his time, he brought a business approach to what had been a traditionally run nonprofit association. He strengthened the Association’s independence and, at the same time, its ties to the State Supreme Court. And he became the opposite of the center of attention that he was in Tennessee. In his 1981 letter to the Board of Governors conveying his resignation and retirement, Eddie noted that although in Tennessee he had been “constantly and literally on stage, with the bands playing and the flags flying,” he had determined early on that with the WSBA it was the organization and not any single personality that needed to be preeminent and “the focus of every shred of attention.”

After, in 1970, he interviewed for the position of executive director, he wrote to the Board of Governors about this life and his beliefs, and the following excerpt from that letter says much about what he was and would continue to be:

“I am not a man who has spent his life sitting at some small desk in a cloistered cubby hole. I am not just a spectator. I have been in the Arena. I have fought for the legal profession, for human dignity and for political freedom. I have made some contributions to this state and to its people and like to feel I have had some input into the National Advance. Therefore, any investigation of me will not produce a faceless monotone with no accomplishments, no friends, no enemies and no scars of the fray. The man who never hazards what he values, for a cause that consumes him — never adds something of himself to his times — is bound always to live in an alien land and a world of someone else’s making. The man who, on the other hand, blazes new trails, stands by his principles, and fights for the causes in which he believes, makes the forest of life his very own. And I guess the point I am really trying to make is that … my total career allows me to bring a maturity and stability and a forward look which will make a real contribution to the Washington State Bar Association and to the programs of the profession.”

He was and did all of those things during his decade as executive director, including preparing the way for those who were to follow. He left the WSBA a far better and prouder place for his presence.

Eddie retired to Sarasota, Florida, in 1981. Typically, his last act on his last day at the WSBA was to skip out on a private going away luncheon he was to have with me and then-WSBA President David Welts. He would tell me years later that “leaving the Bar was the hardest thing in my life, and for an emotional litterbug like me the finality of that luncheon would have been too much.”

Many years have passed since Eddie left the scene in Seattle, and most of those who were the Bar’s active leaders in the 1970s have preceded Eddie in the final roll call. Those who are about and remember the man from Knoxville (and Ballard, where he lived), will appreciate the final lines in Buck Friar’s letter noting his dad’s passing: “Some evening when the champagne is old and the bottle is cold, lift a glass to this rare courier from the long ago and far away, and his favorite toast, ‘Here’s to putts that drop and stocks that don’t.’”

John Michalik is executive director and CEO of the international Association of Legal Administrators, headquartered in Chicago. He served, under Eddie Friar, as the WSBA’s first director of Continuing Legal Education and succeeded Friar as executive director from 1981-1990.

Steven T. Camilleri

Steven Camilleri was born in Los Gatos, California, where he spent part of his childhood before moving to Kirkland. He graduated from Juanita High School in 1983. He spent two years on a mission in England. He received his A.A. degree in 1993 from San Diego City College and continued on to the University of California at San Diego, where he received his B.A. He relocated to the Seattle area in the same year to attend law school at Seattle University, where he earned his J.D. degree in 1999. He was most pleased to have passed the bar exam on his first attempt that same year. Camilleri began his career as a lawyer with the Office of the Attorney General. Just before he passed away, he achieved one of his greatest goals, which was opening his independent law firm in Kent. Family and friends remember him as a free spirit with a great sense of humor and intellect who loved travel and adventure.

Camilleri is survived by his companion, Chris Woods, his mother, his brother and sisters, four nieces and nephews, and countless friends.

Steven Taft Camilleri was born January 1, 1965, and died August 1, 2005, aged 40.

Herbert E. Hood

Herbert Hood served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as a chief yeoman, stationed in Brisbane, Australia. He graduated with honors from Gonzaga University with a law degree in 1947. He practiced law for 14 years in Opportunity. He then worked for the federal government as a procurement attorney for the U.S. Army. His tours of duty took the family to Sacramento; Yokohama and Okinawa, Japan; and Fort Monroe, Virginia, where he retired in 1984.

Hood is survived by his wife, Mary, his five children, and nine grandchildren. Donations can be made to Catholic Charities, www.cathocicharitiesusa.org.

Herbert Eugene Hood was born January 17, 1912, in Beach City, Ohio, and died July 1, 2005, aged 93.

Lloyd Meeds

A native of Monroe, Lloyd Meeds graduated high school in 1946 and served in the U.S. Navy. He owned and operated a service station in Monroe until 1954, when he returned to school to pursue his law degree. He graduated second in his class at Gonzaga University School of Law in 1958. He served as prosecuting attorney for Snohomish County from 1962-64.

Meeds represented the Second Congressional District of Washington in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1965 until his retirement in 1979. Following his retirement from Congress in 1979, Meeds joined Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds as a partner practicing in the Washington, D.C., office. While in Congress, Meeds served on the House Labor and Education Committee and played key roles in passage of legislation that established Head Start, Youth Conservation Corps, and other initiatives. Meeds also served as a member on the Interior and Insular Affairs Committee, where he established his legacy as a conservationist and advocate for Native Americans. He was pivotal in obtaining passage of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971, which provided for the settlement of claims on Native lands in Alaska. He later worked for a resolution to ensure passage of the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA). He also played a key role in conservation legislation, including bills to establish the North Cascades National Park and the Alpine Lakes Wilderness Area.

“Lloyd Meeds was a trusted friend, colleague, and mentor to many in the firm and he will be greatly missed,” said Emanuel Rouvelas, chairman of Preston Gates Ellis & Rouvelas Meeds. “He cared deeply about issues affecting Washington’s citizens, Native Americans, and environmental and educational causes and worked tirelessly in both the U.S. Congress and private sector to be an advocate for those concerns. Lloyd was the definition of integrity and his contributions to the firm are invaluable.”

“Lloyd Meeds served the state of Washington with distinction and honor,” said WSBA member and former Speaker of the U.S. House Tom Foley. “It was a privilege to serve with him in the House of Representatives and his passion and dedication were an inspiration to those who knew him. I was honored to be his friend.”

Meeds is survived by his wife, Mary, three children, and many grandchildren.

Edwin Lloyd Meeds died in Church Creek, Maryland, and was buried at Arlington National Cemetery. He was 77.

William G. Luscher

William Luscher graduated from Gonzaga University School of Law. He was a Washington State Superior Court judge from 1982 to 1990 and a member of the Spokane School Board. He served in the Army during World War II and received the Purple Heart for wounds received in the Normandy invasion. He retired to Concord, New Hampshire, in 1990.

Luscher is survived by his wife, Lucille, his daughter, two granddaughters, and two great-granddaughters.

William Gordon Luscher was born August 8, 1918, and died July 4, 2005, in Concord, New Hampshire, aged 86.

Joseph J. Lynch

Joseph Lynch was born in Spokane, the youngest of seven children. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1976 with a B.A. in Society and Justice. He attended Gonzaga University School of Law, graduating cum laude in 1979. He began practicing law in Spokane and was active in politics. Lynch was a criminal defense attorney for ACA for the past 15 years.

His wife, Michelle, remembers his love of politics and NPR and his sense of humor. Lynch is survived by his wife, a daughter, and a son.

Joseph Jeremiah Lynch was born March 26, 1952, in Spokane, and died July 25, 2005, aged 53.

David M. Bohr

David Bohr grew up on a dairy farm in Vilas, South Dakota. After serving in the Navy, he attended Oregon State University and then went on to receive his law degree from the University of Puget Sound. He relocated to Wenatchee and eventually opened his own practice. In his 20-year long practice, he was proud that his clients didn’t have to make appointments to see him. Bohr considered himself a “country lawyer.”

Bohr was constantly involved in working with children. He spent 16 years coaching youth baseball. He loved the outdoors, especially hunting and fishing, and was involved in the Washington State Hunter Education program. Bohr’s other passion was his motorcycle. In 2000, he purchased the bike of his dreams and named it “Leroy” in honor of his father.

Bohr is survived by his wife, Teresa, his two sons, his mother, and seven brothers and sisters. Memorials may be made to the Wenatchee High School Booster Club, 1102 Millerdale, Wenatchee, WA 98801.

David Michael Bohr was born October 2, 1946, in Madison, South Dakota, and died May 22, 2005, in Spokane, aged 58.

John D. Cartano

A distinguished orator, decorated veteran, business leader, and devoted husband, John Cartano made his mark on the Seattle community. He served in World War II and commanded a PT boat. He received the Navy and Marine Corps Medal of Honor for helping to rescue 35 survivors from a burning transport ship. He graduated from Harvard Law School and was a founder of the Seattle law firm Cartano, Botzer & Chapman. Cartano was a member of the steering committee that brought the 1962 World’s Fair to Seattle.

As a lawyer, Cartano focused on personal-injury cases. He was married for 58 years to his wife, Jane, who died May 1. They enjoyed tending fruit trees at their Bellevue home, making jam and canning fruit.

Cartano is survived by seven children, 13 grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Remembrances may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

John D. Cartano was born April 4, 1909, and died July 19, 2005, aged 96.

Dennis G. Seinfeld

Dennis “Denny” Seinfeld earned degrees at Stanford University and Yale before becoming a lawyer for the state of Washington in 1964. He worked as an assistant attorney general in the mid-1960s before joining his father in private practice in Tacoma. Seinfeld had a passion for social justice. In the summer of 1965, the 25-year-old left his pregnant wife in the South Sound while he traveled to Mississippi and donated legal help to Black residents who were being wrongfully arrested. “I was really uncertain whether my baby was going to have a father during that time,” said his wife, Karen Seinfeld, who went on to become the Tacoma area’s first female state Appeals Court judge.

Seinfeld helped found the City Club of Tacoma, served as chairman of the city’s Human Relations Commission, and helped draft the charter to establish Pierce County’s council-executive form of government. He was involved with community groups including the Metropolitan Park District, the Korean Women’s Association, and the Martin Luther King Housing Foundation. He served on the boards of the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation, Temple Beth El, Greater Lakes Mental Health Center, and the Tacoma Art Museum. “He was an advocate for his clients, but he had a higher calling, or higher duty to serve justice and serve the community,” said Patricia Fetterly, a lawyer and president of Davies Pearson.

Seinfeld is survived by his wife, Karen, three children, and eight grandchildren. Contributions may be made to the Seinfeld Family Scholarship Fund at TCC, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Tahoma Land Conservancy, or the Temple Beth El Building Fund.

Dennis Gary Seinfeld was born April 19, 1940, and died August 1, 2005, aged 65.

Thomas R. Sauriol

Born in Chehalis, Thomas Sauriol grew up in Tacoma and attended Bellarmine Preparatory Academy. He graduated from St. Martin’s College in Lacey and Gonzaga Law School. He became a lawyer in 1953 and did everything from personal injury to divorce until 1978, when he joined the Superior Court bench. He served as a Pierce County Superior Court judge for 18 years.

Sauriol was known for his passion for children, his fairness, his knowledge of the law, and, at times, his firm words. His daughter, Mary Jo, said her father loved being an advocate for people who needed help. “That’s why he loved being a judge,” she said. “That’s why he loved being a lawyer.” Sauriol was a family man and loved fishing and golfing. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus, the Tacoma Elks, Puyallup Eagles, Sierra Club, Tacoma Country and Golf Club, and attended St. Patrick Catholic Church.

Sauriol was preceded in death by his wife of 48 years, Mary Jeanine, and his son Tommy. He is survived by his wife, Katherine, eight children, 28 grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren.

Thomas Rollan Sauriol was born January 7, 1927, in Chehalis, and died September 6, 2005, aged 78.

R. Eugene Boyd

Eugene Boyd was born to a cattle ranching family along the Gulf Coast of Florida. He served in the Navy during World War II as a lieutenant aboard a ship stationed in Puget Sound. He completed law school in Florida and returned to the Seattle area to start his own practice and settle in Bellevue. He was involved in the movement to turn Bellevue into an official city. He posed for a photograph marking the 1953 vote to incorporate Bellevue. In the photo, Boyd holds the post of the town-limits sign while a fellow resident draws an X through the “un” in “unincorporated.” The photo has appeared in Bellevue history books, newspapers, and promotional pamphlets. His arrival in Bellevue coincided with the town’s transformation from a farm town to a fast-growing suburb. Boyd remained involved in civic work. He organized the city’s municipal court and served as its first judge.

Boyd is survived by his wife, Berni, his daughter, three grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

R. Eugene Boyd was born October 8, 1921, and died July 26, 2005, aged 83.

S. Christopher Eslinger

Christopher Eslinger was a copyright/trademark attorney for Intel. He died after a swimming accident in Maryville, Illinois. Memorials may be made to Huntington’s Society or the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Missionary Fund.

Eslinger is survived by his wife, Doris, his daughters, and his mother.

S. Christopher Eslinger was born August 7, 1961, and died July 9, 2005, aged 40.

John C. Patterson

John Patterson earned a B.A. from the University of Washington and then served as a second lieutenant during World War II. He later became a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve. After the war he obtained his law degree and practiced with Betts, Patterson & Mines PS. His interests over the years included the Boy Scouts, Broadway High School Alumnae, and the University of Washington Access Program.

Patterson is survived by his wife, Betty, his daughter, and a grandson. Remembrances may be made to the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation, Mercer Island.

John Patterson was born September 25, 1920, and died February 21, 2005, aged 84.

Clifford A. Kuhn

A longtime Kelso attorney, Clifford Kuhn attended Willamette University in Salem before joining the Army in 1965. He was a court reporter in the 7th Infantry Division at Camp Casey, Korea. “He had a passionate love affair with the law,” said attorney William Dowell, a longtime friend. “He was very prideful of the fact that he represented people that needed the services of a lawyer.”

Kuhn’s wife, Bonnie, said her husband “was what they call a Renaissance man. He accepted felony cases, family practice, adoptions, wills and probates, corporations and partnerships — everything except bankruptcy.” Kuhn’s life had “many facets,” she said; he was an accomplished chef, traveled often to Europe and Asia, played tennis, enjoyed ballroom dancing, grew roses and herbs, and loved BMWs.

Clifford A. Kuhn was born April 19, 1944, in Portland, OR, and died August 16, 2005, aged 61.

Thomas W. Secrest

Thomas Secrest was born in Alaska, where his father was the field engineer in charge of the construction of the Alaska Railway. After overcoming childhood polio, he studied engineering at the University of Washington in Seattle and law at Georgetown University. He practiced patent and trademark law in Seattle and Chehalis from 1953 until his death.

Secrest is survived by his ex-wife, Evelyn, six children, 13 grandchildren, and two great grandchildren.

Thomas William Secrest was born November 3, 1921, in Anchorage, Alaska, and died June 11, 2005, in Centralia, aged 83.

Linda M. Safar

Linda Safar grew up in Pullman and Spokane and lived in the Chicago area until she returned to Washington to earn her law degree from the University of Puget Sound. Safar then lived in Germany with her husband and taught law and business. They relocated to Wenatchee, where Safar became involved in community organizations including the Children’s Museum, Wood House Conservatory of Music, Wenatchee Valley Symphony, St. Joseph’s School, and the Wenatchee City Planning Commission.

Safar’s concern for social justice was the catalyst for establishing the Chelan County Superior Court Facilitator program, which provides access to justice for lower income individuals. She served as a part-time court commissioner, and enjoyed the intellectual challenges and the opportunities to help people resolve disputes.

Safar is survived by her husband, Phil, her daughters, her mother, and four brothers and sisters. Memorials may be made to the Missionary Daughters of the Most Pure Virgin Mary, 600-D St. Joseph’s Place, Wenatchee.

Linda Marie Safar was born on July 14, 1957, in Pomeroy, and died May 14, 2005, in Wenatchee, aged 47.  

Obituaries and remembrances of WSBA members are welcome. Please e-mail to inmemoriam@wsba.org.