Scott McKinstry

Scott McKinstry passed away on March 8, 2025. The world won't be the same without this quality human being and all-around stand-up guy. 

Scott was born in Kenmore, New York in 1965 to Mac and Joanne McKinstry. He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and London's Central School of Speech and Drama with Fine Arts degrees in acting.  He appeared in academic and professional stage productions in Buffalo, Denver, Seattle, London, and New York City from the age of 11; he also cofounded Denver's The Mirror Players Shakespeare company.

A lifelong lover of books and passionate advocate of reading, Scott was a bookseller for many years, at Hatchards in London, England, The Tattered Cover in Denver, Books of Wonder in New York City, and Elliott Bay Books and Third Place Books in the Seattle area. He was a communications manager for the American Booksellers Association, supporting independent bookstores across the country.

Scott relocated to Seattle to marry his wife Beth in 2001, and in 2005 began working at Seattle Children's Hospital, where he cared for countless families with his indescribable talent for connection and his abundant stash of stickers.  He and Beth welcomed their daughter Nina in 2005, and Scott embarked on his most cherished and wildly successful occupation - being a father. There never was, nor ever will be, a more devoted Dee-dah.

In 2020 he retired and devoted his time to enriching the lives of his family and friends worldwide with information erudite, profound and trivial; progressive social and political positions; humor as producer and consumer; and most importantly, expressions of love and thoughtfulness so generously offered.

Scott is survived by his wife Beth and daughter Nina; his sisters Lynn, Bonnie, and Terri; nieces Alana, Fiona, Jasmine, Lily, Stacey, and Joelle; and his mother-in-law and pal, Janice.

To honor Scott, consider watching one of his favorite films, including The Godfather (I and II but NOT III); Truly, Madly, Deeply; Local Hero (over and over again, to the good-natured chagrin of your offspring); and Wings of Desire.  Or read one of his favorite authors: Shakespeare (yes, he really wrote the plays), Calvino, Manguel, and Markson (among many others).  Or listen to some of his favorite music: Dvořák, Puccini, The Beautiful South, Fairground Attraction - the list goes on and on.

Gifts in memoriam can be made to the ACLU, the Human Rights Campaign, or any organization that supports marginalized people or funds theatre education.

A celebration of life event will be held at Folio: The Seattle Athenaeum on Saturday, April 19, at 6:30pm.

"'And death shall have no dominion' - we know that, you and me, eh?"