Creative, musical and intellectual with a deep love for family, Bill Trandum died peacefully at Evergreen Hospice in Kirkland April 24. He was 82 years old.
Mr. T was an enormous character who influenced everyone who stood in his presence.
He was a proud father, grandfather and husband now reunited with the love of his life, his wife of 56 years, Georganne Griffith Trandum, who preceded him in death May 24, 2021. He is survived by his four children: Ginger (Bob) Reitz, Heidi (Christopher) Rogers, Sanya (Scott) Jenkins, Christian (Heather) Trandum; nine grandchildren: Jensen, Stella, Anna, Emerson, Max, Finn, Addy, Mia and Foss. He was an exceptional uncle, brother and friend who was always ready with a joke, a story or a song.
Born and raised in Seattle to Irving Christian Trandum and Stella Bradshaw Trandum, Bill graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1959. He earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Washington and an MBA at Harvard Business School, and served in the U.S. Navy, retiring as a captain after 25 years. His naval career took him to Japan, Boston, San Pedro, Seattle, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania and eventually Tacoma. He was deployed to the Vietnam war and honorably performed three tours of duty on the destroyer U.S.S. Berkeley.
Bill retired from active duty in 1974, transitioned into the U.S. Navy Reserve and moved the family to the Browns Point area of northeast Tacoma, where he invested his energy and creative talent into building community. His high intellect, integrity, engaging personality and sense of humor drew him into the hearts of many and he became affectionately known as “Mr. T,” especially to the teenagers whom he inspired and mentored.
His post-Navy career took him into financial management as chief financial officer and chief operation officer for several large corporations, including The News Tribune and Pierce County Herald. He transitioned to and eventually retired from RBC Wealth Management as a financial advisor.
In 2001, Bill and Georganne moved to Vaughn, to live full-time at their beloved beach house. His love for wind and sea was shared to the fullest with all his kids and grandkids. He made a priority of teaching them how to sail, tie knots, water ski and enjoy playing on and around the water.
Bill was a board member on the Key Peninsula Parks Commission where he helped elevate Key Pen Parks by working to acquire land and develop several key parcels, including Gateway Park, 360 Trails, Maple Hollow and Volunteer Park. He was also a driving force behind reviving the shuttered Key Peninsula News in 2004, and a frequent contributor with his column “Winds, Tides and Weather.”
Bill and Georganne sold their beloved beach house in 2017 and moved to Seattle to be closer to medical support. Bill suffered multiple forms of cancer, heart attacks, hearing loss and strokes due to Agent Orange exposure while in Vietnam. We are grateful to his long-term caregivers, Flo Baadze, Winnie Ooko and Maggie Okemwa.
He is deeply missed by all who have known and been known by him. He left a legacy of life, music, family and love. Mr. T liked saying, “Every trip a round trip!” so, welcome home to heaven Bill. You’ve left an imprint on the lives of all who intersected with yours. Well done, Bravo Tango.
A memorial service is planned for July 12 from 2 -5 p.m. at Carnation Farm, 28901 NE Carnation Farm Road, Carnation. The family requests donations in Bill’s honor go to Key Pen Parks. Burial with military honors will be at Acacia Memorial Park in Seattle with his beloved Georgie by his side.
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