Obituary of Richard E. Sonntag

Dick Sonntag, a former Tacoma City Councilman and a prominent member of a Pierce County political family, died Sunday after a long battle with cancer. He was 66. Dick's life ended peacefully Sunday morning with his loving wife, Alison, at his side. He served on the City Council from 1971 to 1978 during one of Tacoma most progressive eras. Many of the Tacoma notable features B Tacoma Dome, Ruston Way development, Tacoma Convention Center B were visions of the council while Dick served. After his late father, Jack, served 22 years as Pierce County Auditor and died while in office in 1969, Dick pick up the mantle and ran for public office. His brother, Brian, is presently Washington State Auditor and also served as elected Pierce County Clerk and later County Auditor. Dick guided each of Brian's elections since 1978. Their other brother, Jack, also enjoyed a distinguished career in public service. He is a retired teacher, school administrator and state champion Foss High School football coach. And Dick's wife, Alison, is the chief deputy clerk for Kitsap County. Dick was born in Tacoma on December 31, 1942. He was a member of the first class of newly opened Wilson High School in 1958. He later transferred and graduated from Stadium High School. Following graduation, he attended Olympic Junior College in Bremerton, and later Pacific Lutheran University where he was a Shakespearean actor and debater. He also studied radio broadcasting at Bates Vocational-Technical College. He ran for the City Council in 1971 in the wake of the notorious 1970 recall election of five contentious council members. When he ran, all nine council positions, including the mayoral post, were up for election. Only one incumbent was returned to office. Dick served on the mostly new council and was re-elected twice. Ironically, Dick left office because of term limits, a limit that he sponsored while serving on the council. In effect, he was affected by his own proposal. He was a strong, outspoken advocate for open government and citizen participation. Dick also worked tirelessly for law enforcement, public safety, equal rights and fairness. One of his proudest achievements was his proposal to create the Summer Youth Employment Program which gave summer work to kids for many years. "You never had to wonder what Richard felt or thought," his brother, Brian, said. "He had a huge heart, and he was a true champion of the underdog." While he was president of the local PTA in the early 1990s, he saw need for more student-parent representation on the Tacoma School Board. So in 1991, he ran and was elected to the board. He served one term. Among his achievements, he was able to restore some middle school athletic opportunities that had been eliminated. Dick also worked for the Pierce County Jail, and he was a sergeant for the Washington State Department of Corrections at Washington Correctional Center in Shelton and McNeil Island. He subsequently headed security at Western Hospital before retiring from state service. Dick was a long-time political consultant for numerous causes and candidates, offering his help to those he believed in. "He was an effective, practical adviser," said Brian. "He tended to develop his campaign strategies on the back of a cocktail napkin. And his advice was usually right." He was heavily involved in the campaign for levies that support 911 medical services for Tacoma Fire Department staffing and equipment to save lives and help people. That volunteer work earned the Tacoma Firefighters award and made him an honorary firefighter. He encouraged many people to enter public service and run for local office. Many of them are still serving today. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Jack. He is survived by his wife, Alison; brothers, Jack (Betsy) and Brian (Jann), three step children, Louis and Lee Michael and Lorrie Brown; and numerous nieces, nephews and grandchildren. Together with Alison, they were frequent visitors to Disneyland, which Dick loved and truly believed to be the "happiest place on earth." Services will be at noon Saturday at Life Center, at South 18th Street and Union Avenue. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to CPTC Foundation, Sonntag Scholarship, contact 253-589-5732. Arrangements by Piper-Morley-Mellinger Funeral Home, 253-472-3353 www.pipermorleymellingerfh.com