By Kelly Sanderbeck, Donor Engagement Manager
I grew up in Hartford, Connecticut and attended Wesleyan University, graduating with a BA in chemistry in 1960. From there, I went on to graduate school at Northwestern University. In the summer of 1962, I visited the World’s Fair in Seattle — my first trip to the West Coast. It was momentous, and I was so impressed with all the natural beauty of the area. With that in mind, I accepted a postdoctoral position in biochemistry at the UW in 1964. Afterward, I took a one-year teaching position at Sacramento State, then settled in Bellingham where I was a chemistry professor from 1968-2005 at Western Washington University.
My wife Judy and I had two children. In September 1970, we took our one-year-old daughter Amy on a hike to the Paradise Glacier ice cave in Mount Rainier National Park. It was accessible then, but now is off limits. It was something of a ‘baptism’ taking her there.
In August 1974, Judy, Amy, our son Alan, and I camped at Cougar Rock. We were coming back from a hike one afternoon, when we found a bear trying to open our Coleman cooler. We were successful in chasing it away, and the kids remember it as being exciting! I still have the cooler which has claw marks as evidence of the event.
A later photo of the nuclear family was taken at Freemont Lookout in MRNP in July 1992. We came full circle in August 2009 when the extended family stayed at Paradise Inn — Amy, Alan, their spouses, and three grandchildren joined Judy and me. See photo of all nine of us taken at Paradise. Those grandkids are now 22, 16, 11. Hopefully, some of us can make a return trip when the inn reopens.
Paradise in August with its beautiful wildflowers was a favorite place for Judy and me. Unfortunately, she died in December 2017. Then in summer 2018, I was able to be there with my daughter’s family after the smoke from wildfires had cleared. Whenever I experience the beauty of our national parks, it has been uplifting; they have always been wonderful opportunities to explore trails and enjoy natural settings. I have visited some of the Southwest parks as well – Bryce, Zion, Canyonland, Arches – on trips with REI.
I participated in contra dancing before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is convenient that I live adjacent to Whatcom Falls Park with its easy trails. I have been dating Tish Geehan for the past year and much of our time has been spent walking in Bellingham’s city parks and waterfront with its stunning views. In addition, we have enjoyed short trips to Artist Point near Heather Meadow, Semiahmoo Spit, Lummi Island and La Conner.
As soon as I heard about WNPF, I felt very positive about wanting to help our national parks in Washington State, as I have visited them all. Right now I do most of my exploring with the Skagit Audubon Hikers. Before the pandemic, there were hikes scheduled every Wednesday except on holidays, and after I retired in 2005 it was easier to make trips during the week. Most members live in Sedro Wooley, Mount Vernon or Anacortes, and I have been to places I never would have gone to by myself, like exploring areas that are accessed by Highway 20 and the Mount Baker Highway.
I make a yearly contribution to WNPF. I enjoy the wildflowers at Paradise and hope that other people will not pick or trample them. The volunteer Meadow Rovers are helpful in encouraging good behavior. When I first came to Seattle, I was in awe of Mount Rainier and that has not changed.
The outlook for the future of the national parks is brighter since the recently passed Land and Water Conservation Fund will provide funds for maintenance that has been deferred for many years.
After Judy died in December 2017, I created the Sal & Judy Russo Biochemistry Research Endowment at Western. I was on the faculty for 37 years and this gift has a twofold purpose: it recognizes my academic contributions and honors the memory of Judy and her devotion to our family. We met in Seattle when she was in the University of Washington library program. She was employed as a librarian in Sacramento and Bellingham, and then as a bookkeeper after the children were older. We were married for 50 years.
I also contribute to the Mountains to Sound Greenway, where my daughter Amy is Deputy Director. Other donations are made to National Parks Foundation, Earthjustice, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington Wild and the Whatcom Land Trust.
Judy’s last year was 2017 when she was a resident at Highgate Senior Living. In 2018 I returned to volunteer there for several months. I had gotten to know many of the staff so continuing to go after she passed seemed natural. She received excellent care there and near the end of her life she also had compassionate help from Hospice.
Judy was a hiker, too. At three different times, I was fortunate to be on sabbatical at University of Colorado in Boulder. Hiking in that area was one of Judy’s favorite outdoor activities because of the dry climate. Everyone in the family loved those years away; we wanted to go back to familiar territory and good friends in Colorado. While I was there, I did research to update my experience and knowledge in chemistry.
There are certainly issues in terms of the parks being crowded. On an REI trip to Zion, I remember they were using a public bus system in the valley that worked out well. Will that become necessary in Washington’s national parks?
When I was living in Seattle, I joined The Mountaineers and took a basic climbing course. In 1966, I climbed Mount St. Helens to fulfill a requirement of the course. It was an exciting experience that included glissading down the lower part of the mountain followed by a swim in Spirit Lake.. I am grateful for the training but I am strictly a hiker now.
Not very much. I remember going to summer church camp, which was probably the closest thing. The camp was on Columbia Lake where we learned how to swim, boat and canoe. I didn’t do very much hiking as it wasn’t part of the general experience in Connecticut. In Washington, it’s expected that you hike! Coming to the World’s Fair and seeing mountains and everything that was available here was transformative. I bought into: ‘What we do here is hike’ and I continue to have great experiences with that activity.
In the past, I participated in a backpack between White Pass and Chinook Pass with The Mountaineers. It was 30 miles over six days. As we hiked north, we had wonderful views of Mount Rainier. It really got my mind turned around after a day or so. What becomes your routine is so different. Once we ended the hike and got into our cars, I thought: ‘Why are all these cars heading to Seattle? Why is everyone rushing around?’ I appreciated the emphasis on the basics of backpacking: where we’re going, the views, what we’re eating. It was neat to do. I could not physically do it now, but it was truly memorable.