Christopher Bard Goldsmith

Christopher Bard Goldsmith passed away on June 30, 2023 after being diagnosed five weeks earlier with a glioblastoma brain tumor. He was 76. Chris was born in Seattle on February 28, 1947, to Melvin William and Dorothea Darsie Bard Goldsmith. He was raised on Queen Anne Hill in Seattle and graduated from Queen Anne High School in 1965. He was a lifelong member of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church on Queen Anne. He worked at the Seattle PI as a copy boy editor before enlisting in the Navy, where he served six years. He was a Vietnam Era veteran. After returning to Seattle, he worked as a reporter at the Seattle PI. He attended the University of Washington and graduated from Western Washington University. Chris was the nephew of famed writer Betty McDonald, author of Onions in the Stew and the Mrs. Piggle Wiggle Series. In 1977 he married the love of his life, Dorothy Johnson, and they made their home in Bellingham. He worked as the Director of the Public Information at WWU. Later, he became the Director of Alumni Relations, only the second Alumni Director in the school’s history. It was during that time he started the Visa Card program, the WWU license plate program, the Lifetime Membership program, and funded more scholarships and continued with the WWU Distinguished Alumni award each spring where one outstanding Alum was honored. He retired in 2003. He later worked at the Bellingham Herald and Hertz. Chris deeply cared for others, always putting others before himself. He was the most generous human being and his sense of humor will be missed. Chris enjoyed playing golf and during his retirement years, played with a group of retirees from WWU. He enjoyed watching his great-niece Adele play volleyball at WWU and was so excited about the upcoming season. He was an avid stamp collector and did free-lance journalism. His favorite place on earth was Cannon Beach, Oregon where the family vacationed every summer for over 44 years. After retirement, he was able to visit in the summer, fall, and for New Year’s. He enjoyed traveling to Arizona in early spring and was able to make a trip to NYC shortly before he was diagnosed. He enjoyed traveling with his travel friends, Fred and Sandy Olsen. Chris was a member of Faith Lutheran Church.

Chris was predeceased by his parents, younger brother David, nephew Jason Goldsmith, and favorite cousin Tim Keil. He is survived by his wife Dorothy; daughters, Heidi Goldsmith (Joe Dries) of Seattle and their children Beckham Christopher and Finley, and Brooke Gale (Jon) and their children, Alex, Ramona, Eli and Isaiah; son, Jeffrey and wife Sena of Germany and their daughters Naya and Noomi; one great-granddaughter; brother, Steve and wife Carol of Bellevue, WA; special nephew, Jim Holland and wife Darcy of Puyallup, WA and their children Adele and Jack; plus numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Faith Lutheran Church, 2750 McLeod Rd on Friday, July 14 at 11:30am with a reception to follow. Please join the family as they celebrate a life well lived.

Memorials may be made to WWU Volleyball, WWU Women’s Basketball, or the Honoring Women in Sports and the Historic Impact of Title IX Endowment scholarship found on the WWU Foundation Scholarship page. https://alumniq.wwu.edu/giving/make-a-gift