William Rosen, A `True Capitalist,' But Warm, Unassuming Patriarch

When William Rosen was a boy, he learned about metals from his coppersmith father, who arrived in the United States from Europe with $14 in his pocket.

Mr. Rosen, his father and his late brother, Kermit, eventually established the Alaskan Copper and Brass Co., now a nationally prominent company that employs about 450 people and posts sales of $90 million to $100 million a year.

Mr. Rosen, 82, died of an asthma attack in Ucluelet, B.C., Sunday. He was on a salmon fishing trip with a son, a grandson and friends.

As chairman of Alaskan Copper Companies Inc., he was active in the business until his death. The company distributes corrosion-resisting metals and manufactures equipment such as stainless-steel pipe and fittings.

``He admired his father very much,'' said Helen Rosen, his wife of 59 years. He emulated his father's work ethic, she said, and taught it to his six children as well.

Four sons, William M., Donald G., Alan J., and Douglas C., are engineers with the company.

``He was a true capitalist at heart,'' said Judy Tangen, a marketing manager at Alaskan Copper and a 20-year employee. Mr. Rosen loved the business, wanted to see it grow and wanted to make customers happy, she said.

He also was a supportive mentor with a hearty sense of humor and empathy for salespeople just starting out, she said.

``Here's this man, the chairman of the company, he built an empire, yet some poor (salesperson) can walk in the door . . . he would stop and talk to them and give them background on the company and be a truly genuine person with them,'' Tangen said. ``He was really successful, but he was really gracious.''

One of Mr. Rosen's two daughters, Carol Neiman, described her father as a warm, unassuming patriarch. ``We had a wonderful, happy family,'' she said.

His grown children and 15 grandchildren, ranging in age from 4 to 27, all live in the Seattle area. He liked to take his grandchildren fishing, she said.

Born Oct. 28, 1907, in Philadelphia, Mr. Rosen was educated in the Seattle Public Schools system. He graduated from Broadway High School and earned a degree in business administration from the University of Washington.

Mr. Rosen and his wife lived in the Loyal Heights neighborhood for more than 50 years. All six of his surviving children (a son, Lawrence, died in infancy) graduated from Ballard High School and the University of Washington.

He was an avid fisherman and yachtsman. He served in the Coast Guard Auxiliary during World War II with his yacht ``Hellabella'' and was a longtime member of the Seattle Yacht Club. He also enjoyed golf and tennis and rowed on the UW crew team while a student there.

In 1985, Mr. Rosen was elected to the Broadway High School Alumni Association's Hall of Fame for his business success.

A friend, Fred Rogers, described Mr. Rosen as a brilliant yet modest businessman with great intellectual depth.

``He was a leader in his profession and he certainly was a leader in his community,'' he said.

Mr. Rosen also was a generous benefactor. ``He was very successful, but he shared it with the community,'' Rogers said.

In addition to his wife, sons, daughter Carol Neiman and his grandchildren, he is survived by another daughter, Laurie Rosen-Ritt.

Memorials may be sent to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, the Washington Lung Association or the Tikvah House for developmentally disabled adults, in care of Jewish Family Service.