Robert Braunwart III

Robert Braunwart III passed away on Oct. 14 at the age of 59 in Los Angeles. He was born in Richland, Wash., on March 17, 1948, the oldest of four boys born to Bob and Dorothy Braunwart. Robert had been living in Oaxaca, Mexico, for 15 years prior to returning to the U.S. for medical treatment in 2006. His death was from a rare form of melanoma following a long and unsuccessful battle with cancer.

Robert grew up in Moses Lake and attended Reed College as a National Merit Scholar before transferring to the University of Washington where he majored in political science. During his life, Robert worked as an administrative assistant, editor, small business owner, and online math tutor, but his major interests and activities centered on political activities and a variety of personal projects, ranging from co-founding the Professional Football Researchers Association to contributing hundreds of articles to Wikipedia, primarily on the viceroys of New Spain. While living in Oaxaca, Robert took an active interest in helping children from needy families continue their education through friendship, encouragement, tutoring, and financial assistance.

Throughout his life, Robert had a major influence on the people close to him by encouraging intellectual development and political awareness. He urged people to become informed and involved and to keep up the fight for a better, more just world. Robert will be missed by those he left behind in many ways, but he will continue to live in their memories as an inspiration to fight complacency and make a difference.

Robert is survived by his mother, Dorothy; his wife, Glenda Gartman; his daughter, Monica Gartman; his stepson, Sam Taylor, Jr; four granddaughters, Tia, Jordan, Amber and Sadie; and three brothers, Kurt, Eric, and Tod. He was preceded in death by his father, Bob, his first wife, Carol Bays, and his son, Kevin. A memorial service will be held in Seattle on Sunday, Dec. 2, 11:30 a.m. at the Burke Museum on the north side of the University of Washington campus. Directions to the museum are at their Web sight. Please e-mail Robert's daughter, Monica (gartman@u.washington.edu) if you plan to attend the service. Robert would have wanted any gifts in his memory to be given to environmental protection organizations or the American Civil Liberties Union.