December 4, 1942 – January 27, 2019

Surrounded by his family, Rand died in Bellevue, WA on January 27, 2019 at the age of 76 of heart and kidney failure after a series of cascading health events beginning in the summer of 2018. He was born in Medford, OR to Jean (Rand) and Shuler Ginn, raised in Yakima, WA. Rand and Judy met skiing (thanks to their brothers) and were married in 1967. After a tour of duty in Vietnam and graduating from Seattle University, they moved to Mercer Island in 1972 where they raised their three children, Bill, Andrew and Katie. Rand was active in the greater Seattle community through his businesses and community organizations, but his family always came first.

When asked what he did for a living, Rand always said he “owned and operated small businesses.” The businesses were an eclectic lot providing him with a wide variety of experiences. Rand wholly owned O’Brien Water Ski Company and Alaska Fish Fertilizer Company. He was a partner in the ownership of Omega Photo, Tiki Car Wash, Sturtevants of Sun Valley both in Bellevue and in Ketchum, Idaho, Filson Company, several radio stations including KYYX and KXA in Seattle and KORL in Hawaii and participated in several other partnerships as diverse as buildings and ski glove manufacturing. Rand was a gentleman in business as in the rest of his life. He treated his employees with respect and provided them with benefits sometimes reserved to management. He always extended to them the same kindness he extended to others in his life.

While running businesses was what he did for a living, those businesses were only part of Rand’s life. Rand was the kind of man who provides the invisible infrastructure needed for healthy families and healthy communities. He was an active supporter of his wife and children, always there to provide support in tangible ways. No matter what Judy was involved in, Rand helped, and frequently just did what needed to be done without being asked. When Mercer Island Preschool Association put on Circus McGurkus, Rand was on the crew that helped pull equipment out of storage in people’s garages or under their decks, take it to the high school, set-up and then reverse the order when Circus was over the next day. As the kids progressed from preschool to elementary and on to middle and high school, whatever PTA, kids’ activity, church or Rotary project Judy was involved in, Rand was right there helping. Rand was the calm, steadying presence always lending a hand where needed.

The children had their own activities and Rand was there. He was a soccer coach from elementary school years through high school and involved in Indian Guides and Indian Princesses. He recorded Mercer Island Children’s Choir and Puget Sounds concerts and made them available to other families. He chaperoned choir trips to Canada, California, Washington, DC and Hawaii. He was on the board for both choirs. He never missed a school conference or performance. He loved the opportunity to cheer on the kids and do things with them. All the children learned to ski almost as soon as they could walk and he took many skiing vacations with them. After the children had all graduated he became a lineman at Mercer Island High School football games.

While Rand was always helping out in other family member’s activities, he also provided service in the community in ways unconnected to his family’s activities. Rand was an elder at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church and served for many years on the church’s Foundation Board. Almost until he died, he was a Sunday morning usher and counted money for the Church Concert Series. He served on the Mercer Island School Board, and he was the treasurer for numerous political candidates and actively involved year after year in school levies and city funding campaigns. He also served on the Central Puget Sound Camp Fire Board of Directors, Ten Thousand Villages Seattle Board, Mercer Island Historical Society Board and Mercer Island Rotary Board.

He was predeceased by his father, Dr. William Shuler Ginn, his mother, Jean, his step-mother, Letty Ann, and his nephew, Whitney Hall. He is survived by his best friend and wife of 51 years, Judith Whitaker Ginn, his sons William Rand (Laurie) and Andrew Young-kuk, his daughter, Kathryn Jean, and his grandson, Thomas Rand. He is also survived by his sister Joanne (Arthur) Hall, his step-brothers Ross (Priscilla) and West (Sheri) Campbell, and numerous nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers Rand requested donations to the following organizations, listed in alphabetical order: Camp Fire Central Puget Sound Council, 2414 SW Andover Street, Suite D-105, Seattle, WA 98106; Mercer Island Presbyterian Church, 3605 – 84th Ave SE, Mercer Island, WA 98040; Rotary Club of Mercer Island, PO Box 1, Mercer Island, WA 98040.

A Memorial Service celebrating Rand’s life will be February 23 at 2PM at Mercer Island Presbyterian Church. As this is a celebration, the family suggests you wear colors that make you happy. https://cascadememorial.com/obituary/296006/Horace-Ginn/