April 20, 1933–August 13, 2014
Born in Los Angeles on April 20, 1933 to Francis and Milton Foreman, Richard Foreman died on Wednesday, August 13, 2014. Richard, who also lived in Provo, Utah, moved to Seattle at age 16 and graduated from Queen Anne High School. He graduated from the University of Washington, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. After his first year of law school, he was drafted for the Korean War. He served in the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps, also known as the JAG Corps, for two years. He returned to the University of Washington Law School to complete his law degree. After serving as deputy prosecuting attorney for the City of Seattle, he began a very successful private practice.
He moved to Bellevue, where he was on the planning commission and then served 12 years on the Bellevue City Council. He went on to serve three terms as the mayor of Bellevue from 1972-1973, 1974-1975, and 1980-81. The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International named Richard a Paul Harris Fellow. On October 18, 1993, Slade Gorton named Richard attorney of counsel of the Supreme Court of Washington.
A major supporter of the University of Washington Law Department, Richard was an avid Huskies fan. He loved boating throughout the Puget Sound region as well as engaging in hearty political discussions. For the past two decades, one of Richard’s favorite pleasures was helping to build Columbia West Properties and Pineapple Hospitality, where he worked closely with his wife and daughter. Friends, colleagues and co-workers described him as a man of great integrity, wit and humor. He enjoyed donating his time and service to legal aid.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Diane; his daughter Michelle; son Steve; son-in-law Steve; daughter-in-law Yama; grandchildren Maxwell, Alexandra, Ariana, Philip; and his precious dog, Me-Too. Funeral services were held at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle on Sunday, August 17. Interment followed at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, Bellevue. Remembrances may be made to Jewish Family Service of Greater Seattle and the University of Washington School of Law.
Richard Max Foreman