C William Suver

July 26, 1921 - December 29, 2016

Obituary

C. William “Bill” Suver

Born 7/26/1921 in Lusk, Wyoming, he died on 12/29/2016. Bill was raised in Seattle during the Depression, and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1938. As a young man he worked as a heavy equipment operator with his dad at Mud Mountain Dam, and later in Dutch Harbor, Alaska. While in Dutch Harbor, he enlisted in the Navy and served as an aviator during World War II as both a flight instructor and later in the Night Fighters, flying the F6F Hellcat.

After the war he earned an undergraduate degree from Seattle University. Feeling a spiritual calling, he entered the Society of Jesus to begin studies as a Jesuit. While in the novitiate, he received a Masters’ Degree from Gonzaga, and studied in Austria at the University of Innsbruck. He was able to travel Europe extensively and became fluent in German while living abroad.

After returning to the U.S., he married Kathleen Ahern in 1959. Bill continued graduate studies in Economics as his family grew, earning his second Masters’ Degree from Brown University and a PhD from Boston University. He was a professor at St. Martins University and Gonzaga University.

Bill loved the outdoors from a young age, spending his childhood swimming and canoeing at Alki Beach. He was a mountaineer, and one of the earliest members of REI. He summited many challenging peaks in the North Cascades with his younger brother Phil. He preferred the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean to any swimming pool. He swam in Puget Sound off Alki Point until age 90, and loved the Hood Canal and Ocean beaches of Washington.

He shared his passion for the outdoors with his 8 children, car camping, backpacking, hunting, snowshoeing and skiing. All were well acquainted with blue tarp camping in the Northwest, and loved it anyway. He loved classical music and introduced the works of Beethoven and Mozart on long car trips, often serving as guest conductor during the performance.

He leaves behind his wife of 57 years, Kathleen, and children Michael (Christine), Leo (Kim), Joan (Jay), Dan (Chiya), Eileen (Tom), Phil (Nancy), Marie (Eric) and Katie (Mike). His 22 grandchildren were a great joy to him. He cherished time with his family. Remember him by spending time together appreciating the beauty of the outdoors. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Catholic community services: http://www.ccsww.org. Rosary: Friday 1/13/17 at 7pm, and Funeral Mass, Saturday 1/14/17 at 11am at Our Lady Of Guadalupe, West Seattle, http://www.olgseattle.org; Private burial.