| Graduation Year | Class of 1965 |
| Date of Passing | Dec 16, 2022 |
| About | John Patrick Strosahl died of natural causes, on December 16, 2022, at home, with his wife, Judy Strosahl. Born to John and Joyce Strosahl, in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, on February 25, 1947, Pat was raised in Yakima, on Glacier Way, with his three brothers: Steve, Kirk, and Mark. He made lifelong friends in their neighborhood, and in Yakima Schools, graduating from Eisenhower ('65). All four brothers played instruments, thanks to their musician mother, and Pat began his life-long love of piano at age six. They were steeped in baseball, due to their father's interest, and in useful knowledge about construction. After his freshman year at Whitman College, Pat moved to Seattle, graduating from the University of Washington. On a coffee break from his job at the University Book Store, Pat met his wife, Judy, working her after high school job at a donut shop. It was love at first conversation, despite the four-year age difference, which seemed large only at the time. Their conversation lasted 54 years. Pat and Judy bought an old house in Seattle's Roosevelt Neighborhood, where they lived for four decades, raising three children, Angelina ("AJ"), Eleanor ("Ellie"), and John ("Logan"). They became enamel artists, designing enameled jewelry and more, and started a small business, with their friend, Coral Shaffer. Coral lived in an adjacent house, which contained their studio, lending the kids easy access to their parents. During this time, Pat became increasingly engaged with zoning issues and lack of affordable housing. This resulted in his co-founding Vision Seattle, a citywide neighborhood activist group, and running for Seattle City Council twice. Journalist Casey Corr, wrote, "Pat in Seattle played a significant role in raising issues about development and the character of community. He shaped civic conversation for the better in two cities." In a report card, his third-grade teacher at Gilbert Elementary wrote that Pat was "able to converse on a wide variety of subjects," an understatement of lasting amusement to Judy and the kids. Pat's enthusiasms were numerous and varied. He was an accomplished classical pianist with music central to his being. He could also count art, photography, writing, home design, civil rights, and politics among his avid interests. He loved scenic drives, food and wine, cooking, the Seattle Mariners (never a fair-weather fan), traveling, especially to Mexico. He played basketball and tennis for years, often with Steve. At home, Pat always had something in the works: a wood-smoked turkey, salsa verde, bricking the patio, painting the house in elaborate colors, tending raspberry canes, and wine from the grape arbor. Later, on a couple year break from The Seasons, he wrote a political blog. As a father, Pat warmly accepted and believed in his children even at their worst, and they looked to him for life wisdom and advice. They loved how he found humor everywhere, and his gentleness of spirit. Always up for fun, he built a puppet theater and performed at their birthday parties, created elaborate treasure hunts. He taught them to test the doneness of pasta by throwing strands at the wall, coached basketball teams, filmed band performances, gave driving lessons, and earned cool dad cred by chaperoning at concerts. In the early 2000's, Pat was drawn back to Yakima to join his brothers, Mark and Steve, in running the Strosahl family company, United Builders. They shared their father's values of ethical entrepreneurship: UB was a union shop dedicated to paying living wages and carrying health insurance for employees. They took pride in all that UB designed and built, including starter homes, retirement communities, apartments, and housing developments. Sparked by Logan's involvement with jazz, about 15 years ago Pat began playing with his vocalist sister-in-law, Lori, and, eventually, four or five friends in a group that came to be called "The Three Divas". Rehearsals at Lori's were the highlight of his week! In 2005, Steve and Pat noticed the beautiful Christian Science church on Naches Avenue for sale. John, Joyce, Steve, and Pat bought the building and founded The Seasons Performance Hall, a non-profit concert venue, intending to realize Joyce's dream of expanding classical music in Yakima. For seventeen years, Pat was single-minded in his mission to make The Seasons a community gathering hub, where people could experience live classical and jazz music, plus music education and local art. Pat rarely missed a show and was involved in almost every aspect of the organization, even after multiple health setbacks. He had retired (well, semi-retired...) just weeks before his death. Ellie, also worked at The Seasons for nearly a decade. They valued their time working together, spirited arguments about programming, and all. His family wishes to express sincere gratitude for the on-going work of The Seasons' staff with its new Executive Director, Megan Nobbs, the generosity of its many donors, dedicated volunteers and Board of Directors, and the continued support of the community. Pat is predeceased by his parents John and Joyce, and youngest brother Mark. He is survived by his wife Judy, children AJ, Ellie, and Logan, daughter-in-law Neslishah Tilki, grandson Lucas Strosahl-Ortega, friend Coral Shaffer, brothers Steve (Geanette), and Kirk (Patti Robinson), sister-in-law Lori Strosahl, sister Coee Strosahl, many nieces, nephews, cousins, and an aunt. Despite the length of this obituary, his family finds language insufficient to communicate how profoundly he will be missed and how lovingly he will be remembered. His Memorial will be held at The Seasons Performance Hall on February 26, 2023, at 1:00pm, and will be open to all. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made payable to The Seasons Performance Hall and sent in care of Brookside Funeral Home (PO Box 1267, Moxee, WA 98936), who is caring for the family, or donate directly through SeasonsPerformanceHall.com. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.brooksidefuneral.com. |
