Charles “Chuck” Sienkiewicz of Seattle, Washington, passed away unexpectedly on March 14, 2024, at age 86.
Chuck was born to Joseph and Gladys Sienkiewicz, and grew up in Puyallup, Washington, along with his five siblings. As a child he was active in 4H and cared diligently for his award-winning cow, Annabelle Ardis. He graduated from Puyallup High School and went on to earn a master’s degree in electrical engineering from the University of Washington. In his early career he worked briefly for Boeing and Seattle University, before accepting a position at the University of Washington Applied Physics Laboratory, where he worked for more than 30 years. Considered an expert in underwater acoustics, he was dedicated to science and the environment.
He loved travel, golf, tennis, and bridge. He started a “beer and book” club, which has met once a month for 60 years, discussing all manner of books from Alice in Wonderland to Siddhartha. In retirement he took up woodworking and was quite good at it, producing beautiful pieces of furniture. He also tried his hand at growing oysters at the family’s beach property on Whidbey Island. Those who like oysters would say he was good at that, too. Chuck had a reserved presence, but he loved the company of family and friends and conversations about science, history, politics, and current events.
Chuck is survived by his wife Joan, three children Alison, Christine, and David, and three grandchildren Kathryn, Austyn, and Vivian. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Mountaineers Seattle Branch on Earth Day, Monday, April 22, from 3 to 5 p.m. To honor his memory, please consider a donation to Alpha Supported Living Services (alphasls.org) to help enrich the lives of people with disabilities.