Suquamish United Church of Christ: Newsletter (Oct'04)

Pastor Tom represented our church as the Suquamish Tribe recognized community organizations and leaders (including our own Chris Endresen Kitsap County Commissioner) who were supportive of their efforts of regaining "Old Man House Park."

In a landmark decision, the federal government returned sacred tribal property back to the Suquamish tribe. In a special ceremony during Suquamish Chief Sealth Days, the Suquamish tribe honored and presented each of these community leaders a beautiful Native American blanket as a token of their appreciation.

Rev. Judith Bardsley has completed her six-month commitment as facilitator of the Women's Book Group, and future leadership will be rotated within the group.

Thanks you, Judith, for your faithful and energetic leadership. We appreciate your thoughtful and reflective guidance, and we will miss your warm, nurturing encouragement and wise reflections. We hope that you will be able to find time in your busy schedule to maintain our special friendships. We appreciate and value your remembrance!

As the former Associate Pastor of many of you, it has meant a great deal to me to have seen you a couple of times or so since I moved to Seattle. My interim time at Prospect Congregational has been more than I could have hoped for: challenging, fun, joyful, and a surprise-of-a-fit where I could continue to grow in my gifts and as a person. All the while, I could make the most of some good bike riding, old and new friends, occasional time away, as well as life around Capitol Hill.

After some 21 months, I now have a new adventure: I'll be moving up to Anacortes to serve as settle pastor (beginning right about the time you receive this). The congregation is small (I'll be part-time), lively, intelligent, and, again, it seems like a good fit. Plus, as you may well know, the location is wonderful: Puget Sound waters and islands and an artistic community to boot. I especially want to say that, as ever, your loving kindness goes with me. It's something about how the Holy finds a timeless way in our lives. Thank goodness.

Husband, father, teacher, grandfather, coach, school superintendent, and active church leader... Dan was all of these, and a very dear friend to everyone who knew him at Suquamish UCC.

On Sept. 8th, Dan died at the age of 89 years at Marionwood Nursing Home in Issaquah. He and Virginia had been married 622 years and had two children, Danny and Kathy.

Dan taught school and coached in Friday Harbor and Aberdeen, was principal and coach at Mount Vernon, and principal and assistant superintendent at Lake Washington School District. He earned his Master's degree from Stanford and his Ph.D. from the University of Washington.

When Dan and Virginia retired from their active teaching careers, they moved to Suquamish Shores in 1973. What a blessing to our church family! Dan served as head of the search committee that called Rev. Dick Kroll, and later served as Moderator-Elect and Moderator and on most of the church boards through his 27 years at our church. Dan's wise leadership was an inspiration to all of us. He and Virginia were hard workers for most every event... the annual Easter Breakfast, Harvest Dinner, Holiday Baskets, and Christmas Bazaar. Dan took his turn playing "Santa" one year for the children's photos. Dan found the philosophy of our church something he could live with which he had not found in previous churches. He and Virginia loved the people and all their friends at Suquamish UCC. According to Virginia, the church was their social life.

It has been said that "a family is a circle of friends who loved one another." Remarkably, Dan and Virginia unselfishly extended their "family" by being "grams and gramps" for Daniel and Todd, Charlene and Dianna's sons. Thus, Daniel and Rodd experienced the joys of loving, caring grandparents, sharing holidays and birthday celebrations, picnics and family dinners.

In 2000, Dan and Virginia moved to Issaquah. Virginia will continue living in Issaquah with their dog, Pepper. She looks forward to attending our church services in the near future and visiting with dear friends.

We give thanks for having the privilege of knowing Dan and will miss him terribly! Dan said he wanted to be remembered for "whatever he could do for other people" ... and, of course, we will all remember his wonderful gentle smile!