11/22/1951 – 10/22/2017
Charlie grew up in south Seattle, graduated from Franklin High School, attended the University of Chicago and then transferred to Evergreen State College to complete his undergraduate degree. He worked in the office of the Washington State Attorney General before getting his JD from the University of Puget Sound with a full scholarship.
He had a passion for justice and firmly believed in the rights of all for competent legal representation. His criminal defense practice, first in Thurston County and then in Seattle, embodied that belief. He was active in the Washington Association of Criminal Defensed Lawyers with multiple leadership roles including that of president from 2000-2001. In 2007 he received the Daniel Bigelow Award from the Thurston County Bar Association, honored by his peers for his outstanding professional and community service.
He taught and published numerous articles about courtroom strategies. For ten years he coached the Franklin Mock Trial Program and was proud of their six state championships, three top-ten national awards and the national championship in 2000 during his tenure.
Charlie’s intellect knew no bounds. His library is a testament to the breadth and depth of his interests, especially in philosophy, spirituality and mysticism. He read Gurdjieff, the Greeks and the Germans, and he studied Tibetan Buddhism. He spent nearly a decade studying with AH Amaas (Hamid Ali). Later he studied Theosophy with a focus on the work of Alice Bailey, finally coming to Anthroposophy and the works of Rudolf Steiner – whom he felt had the largest view of existence.
He died after a brief illness, of cancer.
Charlie is survived by his wife, Cappy Thompson, step-daughter Kendra Palmen, mother Shizue, sister Mary and brothers John and Robert. He is deeply loved and will be missed.
A funeral will be held Saturday, Nov 4 at 2pm
St Hugh Episcopal Church
280 E Wheelwright St, Allyn WA 98524
A reception honoring his life for those who knew and loved him will be held Sunday, Nov 5 from 2-6 pm
707 S Snoqualmie St #4A, Seattle WA 98108