After battling cancer for over a year, Bob left us to be with the Lord last Sunday, October 15, 2006. He was at peace in his home on Lake Burien and was surrounded by his family. He was greatly loved and will be greatly missed.
Bob was born in Salina, Kansas, March 29, 1927. He was the youngest child having an older sister and brother. In 1940, at the age of 13, he and his family moved to the Northwest and settled in Vancouver, Wash. He attended Vancouver High School where he excelled in all sports, lettering his first year. Near the end of World War II, at the age of 17 he dropped out of high school to join the Navy and served as an enlisted man on an escort aircraft carrier.
Coaching football was an ambition from the time he was in high school. In pursuing his goal when the war had ended he entered Eastern Washington State College (now ESU), earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in education. There he met his sweetheart, Gloria, also an education student. They were married, graduated together, and began careers as educators in the Highline School District in Burien. Throughout his career, Bob's positions included Junior High School teacher, football coach, and counselor, Junior High principal, high school principal, administrative assistant to the superintendent, and ultimately, superintendent of schools, which position he held for 10 years.
His career marked many leadership roles locally, statewide and nationally. As superintendent of the Highline Board of Directors, the Board was twice selected as the outstanding board in the state of Washington. Professionally, Bob was elected President of the State School Administrators Association. Nationally, Bob served as Chairman of the Suburban School Superintendents and was a presenter on four occasions at the National School Directors Association Conference.
Bob attended the University of Washington, earning a masters degree in education, and later earned a doctorate in education from the University of Northern Colorado.
Bob also served on a number of boards over a period of 20 years. As a member of the Pacific Science Center Foundation Board, Bob helped raise significant funds for educational programs now recognized throughout the state. Highline Community Hospital utilized his services during the early construction years as Bob also served on that foundation board helping to raise the initial funds to build one of the leading hospitals in the state. Bob was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the School Employees Credit Union of Washington in 1984 and continued to do so until his passing. He also served as an active board member of PEMCO Insurance Company for 32 years, serving as Vice Chairman of the Board. His tenure has witnessed growth of both companies, which developed into two of the larger organizations of their types in the state.
Retiring in 1982 from the Highline School District as superintendent, Bob was requested to head up a statewide training program for aspiring school administrators under the auspices of the Washington Association of School Administrators. Having previously taught as adjunct professor at Seattle University, he was offered a full-time teaching position in the Doctoral program at Seattle University for six years. In addition, Bob was hired as an associate with the Pacific Institute under the leadership of Louis Tice. Later, Bob served as an educational consultant to several school districts. His leadership was felt throughout the state.
Locally, Bob was selected as Burien's Man of the Year in 1980, served as President of the Burien-White Center Rotary, was local chairman of the United Way, and served on the Board of Directors of the local YMCA.
On a personal level, Bob's leadership skills and influence were demonstrated in the early 1980's when he successfully saved an 80-year-old family log cabin from destruction by convincing the U.S. Forest Service to include it on Idaho's state's registry for buildings of historical significance. Thanks to Bob's dedication and hard work, this lake island cabin is still used today for family vacationing as it first was back at the turn of the last century.
Retirement provided the time for Bob and Gloria to engage in their two favorite activities, travel and boating. During their retirement years, they visited 28 countries, some with friends and many just the two of them traveling on their own. In addition, boating with friends allowed visits to much of the San Juan Islands, as well as upper Vancouver Island and the Gulf waters. They also enjoyed many winters at their condo in Hawaii. Bob loved people, commonly making new friends wherever he went.
Bob was very much a family man. Family vacations were a tradition. He was always encouraging and seldom missed any activities in which his children and grand children participated. He was a loving and devoted husband and any time without Gloria was very rare. In addition to numerous relatives, a host of great friends have given Bob peace in his final days. He will be greatly missed by us all.
Bob is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Gloria; a daughter, Linda Sealey-Burgess, her husband, Robert Burgess; a son, Robert Sealey, Jr., his wife, Peggy Sealey; their grandchildren, Brianna (Burgess) Oberg, husband, Jason Oberg, Amanda (Sealey) Curtis, husband, Todd Curtis, Kaleena Sealey-Burgess, Ashlyn Sealey, Anna Sealey, and Dakota Sealey-Burgess.
A memorial service celebrating Bob's life will be held on Saturday, October 28, 2006, at 2 p.m. at Grace Community Church, 1320 Auburn Way South, Auburn.
The family will donate all gifts and funds to establish a memorial with the Highline School District for Robert D. Sealey.
