Richard R. Albrecht, 89, Seattle, Wash.

Richard R. Albrecht, 89, of Seattle, Wash., died on Dec. 28, 2021, at the age of 89.

Always an optimist, Dick was a collegial man who valued a challenge. He spent his early years on an Iowa farm with his parents, Arnold and Catherine Albrecht, and siblings Shirley and Larry in a notable home built from local fieldstone. Dick was 8 years old when his father died, leaving his mother to manage the farm. Dick participated in sports, musical competitions and farm work in Hartley.

Dick attended the University of Iowa. He was a member of Sigma Nu fraternity and played horns in the marching band. To fulfill his obligation to the U.S. draft he served in the Army Intelligence Corps. Returning to U. of I. after his service, Dick earned a B.S. in Chemistry and a J.D. from the College of Law, where he was honored with Order of the Coif and Omicron Delta Kappa. The university honored him as an Outstanding Alumnus in later years.

In 1961, Dick joined the law firm of Holman, Mickelwait, Marion, Black & Perkins where he became partner. At Perkins Coie, Dick made lifelong friendships and connections. Through his involvement with the Municipal League of King County, he was elected to the Board of Freeholders and chaired the electors who wrote the new King County Charter which has been the governing law of King County since 1968. In 1969, he was awarded Outstanding Citizen of the Year by the King County Municipal League.

In 1974, he was appointed to serve as the General Counsel of the U.S. Treasury receiving the Alexander Hamilton Award for his service.

Dick joined the Boeing Company as General Counsel and Secretary in 1976. In 1982 he became an officer of the Boeing Commercial Airplane Group where he held various senior executive positions, lastly Executive Vice-President – Customers until his retirement in 1997. Dick valued his many local and international business friendships and thought Boeing and aviation the best brotherhood in the world.

A strong believer in the value of education and philanthropy, Dick supported many cultural, charitable and civic organizations. He has established scholarships at the University of Iowa, Washington State University, Central Washington University and a research study at Benaroya Research Institute. Over time, Dick served on the Board of Regents at Washington State University and held board positions at Virginia Mason Medical Center, Delta Dental, Pacific Legal Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, Seattle Opera, Bainbridge Island Museum of Art, Museum of Northwest Art and the Rainier Club. Dick also served on the boards of Peoples Bank, Security Pacific Bank and Esterline Corporation. He was a member of The Order of St. John of Jerusalem, serving Palestine and Israel.

In 1957, Dick married Constance Berg, a schoolteacher. It was a life of love and friendship for 64 years. Dick and Constance travelled the world together. Dick's four sons: John, Carl, Richard and Henry; 11 grandchildren: Justin, Emily, Lily, George, Rose, Ben, Andrew, Walter, Alexander, Josephine and William; and three great-grandchildren: Hazel, Chloe and Grace were the lodestones of his life. Family skiing at Crystal Mountain and hunting and fishing trips with his sons were great. In retirement, Dick spent hours with fingers in the dirt tending his vegetable and flower garden or harvesting his oyster nets. Dick loved his Bainbridge Island home which was a place of rousing good family times.

Assessing his life Dick said, "I've enjoyed it all and I still do."

Interment is at St. Barnabas, Bainbridge Island. A gathering will be held at a later date.