Interroga Omnia!
Click on any member to view his bio.
Stan Barnes
Born: Bremerton, WA/1941
Spouse: Eileen Barnes
Family: Two adult children, five grandchildren.
Education: BA/History, Harvard '63, MBA/Harvard Business School '70.
Career: Director, Planning/Research- KING Broadcasting (1970-72), Station Manager, KING-FM (1972-75), Pres, Seattle Ops, Ford Foundation/U.S. Labor Dept (1975-78), Management Consultant (1979-2009), Founder, Bioalgne, Inc (2009-2015).
Profesional Accomplishments: Established KING-FM as third profitable classical music station in U.S., Debugged accounting procedures for Ford Foundation subsidiary, National Association of Broadcasters award for audience development; Built three community mental-health facilities using crews of former criminal offenders; Founded algae-to-fuels/feeds/fabrics company as member of Sustainable Aviation Fuels Northwest consortium.
Other Organizations: Big Brothers, Seattle Mental Health, Earth Corps, Stanley Ann Dunham Scholarship Fund.
Favorite Interests: Biking, sailing, skiing, photography, cooking. Now working on book re Discovero of Columbia River, native responses to Cook, Meares, Vancouver, Gray, Bodega y Quadra.
Joined Wranglers: 2016.
Colin Brandt
Born: New York, NY
Partner: Debra
Family: Two adaughters
Education: BA, English Literature, U of Colorado/Boulder, MA, Architecture, U of Oregon
Career: ntern, Cambridge Seven Associates (Boston), Intern, Robert Luchetti Associates (Boston), Associate, EDGE, LLC (Seattle), Founding Architect, Brandt Design Group (Seattle)
Other Organizations: Board of Directors, Outdoors for All Foundation (9 years, current), Mercer Island Design Commission (11 years)
Favorite Interests: Skiing, biking, hiking, cooking, reading
Joined Wranglers: 2023.
Brian Comstock
In 1954 Brian graduated Magna Cum Laude from UW with a degree in political science. He then served two years as an officer in US army counter-intelligence. He received his law degree from Harvard in 1959 and joined Roberts & Shefelman rising to managing partner. In 1987 they merged with Foster & Pepper. In 1990 Brian moved to Short Cressman & Burgess to head its business practice group. He retired in 2004 and served as an adjunct professor at Seattle U Law School and the Albers School of Business and finance.
In 2006 he and his son, John formed the Comstock Law firm in Bellevue.
Brian has been married to Karen for 55 years and have seven grandchildren. Having played on the UW tennis team, he still loves playing tennis. He has climbed Mt Rainier several times and many other mountains as well, including Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Everest, though only part way on that hill. He also has been an aerobatic pilot and part owner of a family airplane.
Tom Davdson
Tom has lived and worked in this area, mostly on Mercer Island, for 48 years. He graduated from Bellevue High School, attained his undergraduate degree at University of Washington, then went on to earn his degree in Dentistry…and another in his specialty, Endodontics, also at the UW.
He began his practice on MI, taught at the UW School of Dentistry...now retired.
Tom has engaged in many volunteer opportunities such as Boy Scout leadership as well as many others associated with his Rotary membership. He currently volunteers as a docent at the Museum of flight.
At one time he was an avid private pilot and then a boat owner and operator, in which he is still engaged.
Joe Decuir
Joe is an American fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for contributions to computer graphics and video games, with initial work on Atari and Amiga. He’s credited with substantial technical and editorial contributions to wired and wireless communications engineering standards (details on Wikipedia). He was on the IEEE Consumer Electronics Society Board of Governors, 2015-17, and is currently on UW’s faculty of Electronics Engineering. Joe received his B.S. and M.S. degrees from University of California, Berkeley, has four grown children, and volunteers time to IEEE to global humanitarian conferences.
Bill Dowling
Dr. William Dowling, a resident of Aljoya, is a Professor in the Department of Health Services in the School of Public Health at the University of Washington. He was Chair of the Department from 1994 to 2009.
He still teaches courses on the strategic management of health care organizations and the U.S. health care system in the master’s degree program in health administration at the U.W. His research interest is in the relationship between the changing U.S. health care environment and the strategies, structures and performance of U.S. health care organizations.
He received a BA from Duke University, an MBA in Hospital Administration from the University of Chicago, and an MA in Economics and PhD in Medical Care Organization from the University of Michigan, where he subsequently served on the faculty of the graduate program in Hospital Administration. He came to Seattle to serve as vice-president of Planning and Policy Development for the Providence Health System before joining the University of Washington.
Robert Fahrer
Mercer Islander since 1999
Spouse: Maxine
Career: Currently with Morgan Stanley as wealth management advisor, but— retiring shortly to take senior position in a private operating Foundation or continue to build small consulting firm focused on improving organizations and executive development.
Education: Ph.D. - Education/Higher Education Planning, WSU— followed by work with Higher Education Personnel Board, State of Washington.
Military: Previously Director, Middle East Studies Program, Special Operations School, USAF Special Operations Force, and USAF Squadron Executive Officer, Drone Testing Program, USAF Special Operations Force (both positions in 1970’s). USAF Lt Col (Ret.)
Favorite Interests: Family, music, reading, outdoor activities. Served on non-profit Boards. Actively interested in broad Middle East geopolitics and select global issues— very important to me.
Mark Hafermann
Born: Lindstrom, MN/1933
Spouse: Vija
Family: 4 Children, 7 Grandchildren.
Education: U of Minnesota, B.A. (Chemistry), 1951-55, U of Minnesota, B.S., M.D., 1955-59, Internship, Harborview Hospital, 1959-60, General Practice, Group Health, Seattle, 1961-62, Residency, Internal Medicine, U of Wash, 1962-63, Residency, Diagnostic & Therapeutic Radiology, UW, 63-67, Clinical Investigator, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 67-69 .
Career: UW School of Medicine/ University Hospital, Instructor in Radiation Oncology, 1966-67, Asst Professor & Staff Radiation Oncologist, 1969-72, Clinical Assistant/Associate/Full Professor of Radiation Oncology, 1972-99, Virginia Mason Medical Center: Physician, Division of Radiation Oncology, 1972-1999; Division Head, 1983-93, Medical Director, Virginia Mason Cancer Center, 1993-98, National Prostate Cancer Project, 1979-87; Coinvestigator and Chairman, Radiation Oncology Sub-Group; Protocol Author/Collaborator, National Bladder Cancer Project, 1979-87, Coinvestigator and Chairman, Radiation Oncology Sub-Group; Protocol Author/Collaborator, Lung Cancer Study Group, 1981-89, Coinvestigator and Protocol Collaborator, Organ Systems Program, National Cancer Institute, 1985-88, Bladder Cancer Working Group, Community Clinical Oncology Program, National Cancer Institute, 1983-85’ Genito-urinary Committee, Protocol Author/Collaborator, American College of Radiology Patterns of Care Study:Carcinoma of Prostate, 1989, Prostate Consensus Committee. Currently retired.
Other Organizations: Boy Scouts of America, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, President, Klahanie Beach Community, Vashon.
Favorite Interests: Family Activities, Photography, Hiking, Skiing, Do-It-Yourself Projects, Travel.
Joined Wranglers: 2003.
Einer Handeland
Born: Tacoma, 1943. Parents immigrated from Norway. Father a fisherman and carpenter, built Handeland's Motel on Hwy 99….so his children could go to college. Moved to Mercer Island, adopted two children…lived in present house 45 years.
Education/Military: Fife High School, student body Pres. UW/civil engineer. Drafted— Navy Civil Engineer Corps, officer/Seabee battalion…Vietnam, 1967-69. Master’s degree— UW in civil/transportation engineering.
Career: Tudor Engineering— 29 years; became office manager. In 1999, took entire staff to Parsons Brinckerhoff. Worked on West Seattle Bridge, SR-520, Mercer Corridor, Seattle Commons, Seattle Waterfront, Washington Ferry System, Fremont Bridge, South Park Bridge, SR-405, SR-167, Coleman Dock. On Mercer Island— design of Island Crest Way from 40th to 68th, Gallagher Hill Road, SE 40th to West Mercer and portions of I-90 around Island Crest Way interchange.
Boards/Committees: MI Design Commission, MI Presbyterian Church, Covenant Shores, MI School District location committee, MI downtown Main Street study, Visiting Committee for the college of civil engineering/UW, DKS Engineers, Seattle Rotary #4 board, MI Historical Society, Seattle Presbytery Pastoral Commission.
Personal Interests:Avid gardener—grow over 700 exhibition dahlias annually, give a thousand tubers to the Pike Place Market farmers. Used dahlias as a marketing tool many years— most clients could not accept even a cup of coffee, but dahlias— not on the ethics list. Many still call with questions about tubers even to this day!
Joined Wranglers: 2022.
Csaba Hegyvary
Born: Debrecen Hungary, 1938
Education: Graduate, Medical University of Budapest/1962 (summa cum laude.
Career: Vanderbilt University, Nashville TN/1967-1972 ( research associate, Assistant Professor);: Chicago, Rush University Presbyterian St Luke Medical Center, Professor of Physiology, Medicine and Psychiatry/1972-1984; Seattle, Medical Director of Psychiatry, St Cabrini Hospital/1986-2017; Attending Physician Providence and Swedish Hospital/1986-2017.
Highlights of Professional Career President/Washington State Psychiatric Association/2004. Inducted as Distinguished Life Fellow of American Psychiatric Association/2010; Published 52 scientific papers, numerous essays in literature, five books in Hungarian and in English. (Last one: "From Innocence to Evil: What Drove Hitler and Stalin").
Joined Wranglers: 2022.
Chick Hodge
Born: Philadelphia, PA/1939
Spouse: Linda
Education: Haverford Township (PA) Schools, 1-12, Lehigh Unviersity, B.S. in Engineering Mechanics, Stanford University, M.S. and Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering.
Career: Boeing Commercial Airplanes, technology and new product development, 1966-198. Boeing Corporate, responsible for technical and business aspects of intellectual property. Currently retired
Other Organizations: Mercer Island United Methodist Church • Mercer Island Boys’ and Girls Club • Mercer Island School Board • Mercer Island School District Strategic Planning Committee • Youth basketball coach on Mercer Island • Mercer Island Country Club – tennis • Roundtable Breakfast Club • Wranglers • Atlantic Street Center
Favorite Interests: Family, Tennis, golf, spectator sports.
Joined Wranglers: 2001.
Dan Hungate
Born: Austin, TX/1938,
Spouse: Connie
Children: Three children - Alan, Bruce, ConnieAlice; grandchildren - 6 with number 7 due March 1, 2010
Education: Stanford, BS Chemical Engineering 1961 (class of '60), Harvard Law School, LLB 1964
Career: Private law practice with emphasis on real estate and general business. Partner with Bogle & Gates. Currently retired.
Highlights of professional career: Representing the landlord in negotiating a long term lease for approximately 30 acres in downtown Freemont.
Organizations: Adventure Cycling Association, Rainier Club, Congregational Church on Mercer Island,formerly Seattle Aquarium Society, Hearing Speach and Deafness Center, Municipal League
Favorite interests: Cycling, skiing, swimming, hiking, traveling, woodworking, gardening, cooking, opera, plays and other cultural events.
Joined Wranglers: 1990.
Jeff Martine
Jeff moved to the island as a one-year-old in 1941, attending all its schools and graduating with its first high school class in 1958. He continues as its informal scribe. Graduated from the UW (1965) with a history degree, married Eve, (1967) a teacher and later a principal. The couple has a son, daughter and five grandkids all residing in the eastside. After interruptions for naval service and a “gap year” in Europe— went to work for Seattle-based Pacific Air Freight (later Airborne) a forwarder authorized to provide air freight services during the pre-deregulation days. Following assignments in Seattle, Denver, Atlanta and Newark, he returned to the Seattle and headed marketing. In 1975 he started a printing firm, Telepress, which specialized in providing identity printed products (primarily business cards) for large organizations. Upon retirement in 1997 the empty-nesters moved from the island to a home east of North Bend on the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River.
Joined Wranglers: 2023
Rich Matrisian
Born: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 1947. Moved to Seattle in 1985, married, one daughter, currently lives near Greenlake.
Education/Military: Pennsylvania State University graduate— BS in Architectural Engineering. Drafted, Vietnam 1970, 334th Attack Helicopter Squadron, MOS Radio Communications.
Career: Multidiscipline engineering — Mechanical, Electrical, HVAC, Plumbing, Fire Protection, Control & Instrumentation, and Maintenance Management. Registered professional mechanical engineer in four western states.
Professional Highlights: Supervising/Lead Engineer on Metro Bus Tunnel (1985-90), Denver International Airport (1992-94), Whittier Tunnel - Alaska (1998-2000), Alaska Way Viaduct (2002-2012), SR520 Floating Bridge (2015-18). 45-year career at Parsons Brinckerhoff and continuing with WSP Americas.
Other Organizations: WSDOT Expert for Tunnel Life Safety, National Fire Protection Association Member Presentation to WSDOT Bridge Conference on I-90 Tunnel Control Upgrades
Personal Interests: Health + Nutrition, Running, Biking, Swimming, Lifting Weights + 25 years of weekly ice (mostly speed) skating, travel, (selected) British Mystery Series
Joined Wranglers: 2023
Ed Mencke
Born: Medford, Oregon— 1948.
Spouse: Nancy
Family: 1 daughter, 1 standard poodle, 2 grandchildren
Education: BA Political Science, University of California Santa Barbara
Career: Residential real estate broker, prior to that— account manager, Levi Strauss & Co
Other Organizations: Rotary Club of Mercer Island, Board member— Sahalee Country Club and Choral Arts Northwest.
Favorite Interests: Golf, travel, classical music, observer of national politics.
Joined Wranglers: 2016.
Milan Richter
Don Rothenstein
Born: November 13, 1949
Family: Spouse— Betty Wong, two children
Education: Cornell University - B.S. Chemical Engineering + MBA (1971 + 1973); The Wellness Forum Institute for Health Studies - Nutrition Educator (2020)
Career: Retail Record Business, Retail Consumer Electronics (bulk of it), Retail Green Building Supplies
Joined Wranglers: 2023.
Don Rule
Grew up in Yalesville CT, 10 miles from Yale, attended UConn, graduated/economics degree from U of Bridgeport. Short stint working as a writer for a stock advisory newsletter. After year in the finance department of a Dun & Bradstreet division, I found I was more competitive creating reports from our database management system than pushing a pencil. This, combined with MBA that D&B paid for, lead to a career in IT…and eventually a position at Microsoft that brought me to Seattle. When the human genome was sequenced, I was enthralled with the idea that a software person could make a contribution to human health. I departed Microsoft in 2008 for a year as CTO at a genetics lab in Seattle, and then on to founding a company focused on precision medicine. My company translates genetic test results into reports that doctors use to prescribe drugs more effectively.
Joined Wranglers: 2024.
Bill Severson
Spouse: Meredith
Children: Steve, Alissa
Education: BA Economics 1971, JD 1974/University of Washington
Career: Began career with the King County Prosecutor’s Office representing the county assessor and county treasurer. Upon leaving public practice, worked at the law firms of Stoel Rives and Garvey, Schubert & Barer before setting up own practice in 2006, focusing on Washington state and local taxes, with emphasis on property tax disputes.
Other Organizations: Washington Business Advisory Council, State /Local Tax Committee of the Washington Bar Association, Visiting Committee for the Economics Department/UW, Nature Conservancy, American Conservation Coalition.
Favorite Interests: Avid skier, hiker, bicyclist, and wannabe wood worker who looks forward to making time for more travel adventures as Covid permits.
Joined Wranglers: 2022.
Paul Sheppard
Works in Boeing Defense as an Information System Security Manager. With a Master Degree in Cyber Security and multiple certifications, he has been in the Technology and Cyber Security field for over a decade. He is a mentor, speaker, veteran, and subject matter expert in his specialization. Between contracting and military deployments has spent over 4 ½ years in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Joined Wranglers: 2023.
Mark Southern
He’s a Montana native, graduate of UofA/Anchorage, has served as CFO in a wide range of industries, including commercial construction, technology, and manufacturing. An avid cyclist, he did the Race Across the West (RAMROD) several times…and is a crack shot, having relentlessly practiced (unsupervised) in his parents’ home during his youth (possible Member’s moment?). Also, an enthusiastic traveler…who also occasionally joins his wife on the ice rink (possible Member’s moment?). Yes, he’s married (Trina), with two adult sons, two stepdaughters, and a grandson.
Joined Wranglers: 2024.
Dawson Stoops
John Strasburger
Born: Dallas, TX/1937
Family: Four daughters, two granddaughters, four grandsons.
Education: Mrs McLawrty’s preschool, Ben Milam Grade School, North Dallas High School, University of Texas B.A. and L.L.B., Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies M.A.
Career: Lawyer, Seattle, WA. Currently retired.
Proudest Professional Accomplishment: Not being disbarred!
Other Organizations: Scout Master, church choir, tutor.
Favorite Interests: Tennis, golf, skiing, wood working.
Joined Wranglers: 2007.
Ray Waldmann
Born: Walton, New York/1938, moved around the country with stints in Panama, Newfoundland, and Germany (dad in the army!).
Family: Wife/Mary, three children in California, and a daughter from first marriage now practicing Law in Washington D.C.f
Education: MIT for Chemical Engineering degree, then an additional year for a Humanities degree, then to Harvard Law School.
Career: first job was as a management consultant for 6 years with Arthur D. Little in Boston, London, and Brussels. In 1970— recruited by the Nixon White House as a policy analyst on the new Domestic Council under John Ehrlichman. 1973— moved to the State Department as Deputy Assistant Secretary, back to White House when Ford became President. Stayed in DC during the Carter years, and became Assistant Secretary of Commerce for International Economic Policy for Pres. Reagan. 1985— joined Boeing/Seattle, first in government affairs with the Commercial Aircraft company, later as corporate VP for International Affairs. 2000— retired, but taught a few years at the UW Business School and served on several corporate boards.
Joined Wranglers: 2023.
Tony Ward-Smith
Born: Shanghai China/1938, arrived in U.S./1941, lived in San Jose, CA and Buffalo NY before arriving in Seattle/1948.
Family: Two adult children (Maggie, Jack Panther), four grandgirls (Zoe Mae, Delia Grace, Lucy Mae, Riley Teal).
Education: Roosevelt High School (class of 56). BA/ UW, School of Communication/61. Graduate studies UW School of Business, 1967.
Career: Director of Public Relations, Sicks’ Rainier Brewery, 1966-69, Principal, Ward-Smith & Company, Advertising/Marketing/Public Affairs Consulting, 1970-on.
Military Experience: Lieutenant, USNR: Navy UDT (frogman) Training, Coronado/62, USS Bennington CVS-20, San Diego/63, Armed Forces Radio/Argentia, Newfoundland/64, Admiral’s Staff, Pacific Mine Forces, Long Beach, CA/65.
Professional Accomplishment: Pioneering work in community involvement and citizen participation in major public works projects (West Seattle Freeway/1970). Created/produced national rollout marketing campaign for credit union “share drafts” (checking account services), leading to the deregulation of consumer banking in U.S. Facilitated the industry-wide shift into full-service banking. Feasibility studies for Tulalip Tribes to establish first Indian Gaming Casino in Washington.
Favorite Interests: Handball, boating San Juan and Canadian waters, baritone ukulele, Great Highland Bagpipes, woodcarving (Salish masks, etc.), classic autos.
Joined Wranglers: 2008.
President— Einer Handeland
Vice President— Dan Hungate
Secretary— Rich Matrisian
Treasurer— Bill Dowling
Web Guy— Tony Ward-Smith