Richard Sinnott Sr. served as lobbyist, federal official

Richard Larkin Sinnott Sr., a prominent lobbyist and a deputy assistant secretary of commerce under former President Richard Nixon, took a "young good ol' boy" approach to getting federal funding or favorable policy for cities and companies, a friend says.

He had sharpened his skills in Chicago, where he was an adviser to Mayor Richard Daley, then took them to the political big leagues of Washington, D.C.

"Dick was a guy of limitless enthusiasm and complete devotion to people, and wanted to do some good in the world," said a former colleague, Gordon Arbuckle. "Dick was a confidant to a lot of presidents, including (Bill) Clinton."

Mr. Sinnott, a Bainbridge Island resident since 1989, died Monday (July 17) from complications of heart surgery. He was 64.

Born in Chicago, he earned a bachelor's degree in journalism at the University of Notre Dame.

He went to work in the marketing office of Chicago's Bank of Commerce, managed a congressional campaign and became an adviser to Daley. He once served as grand marshal in Chicago's St. Patrick's Day Parade.

In 1968, he earned an appointment with the Nixon administration. As deputy assistant secretary of commerce for economic development, he helped identify and fund urban development and job projects throughout the nation.

He was particularly pleased to work with the Seattle-King County Economic Development Council to bring nearly $5 million in federal matching funds to Seattle during the big Boeing layoffs of the late 1960s and early 1970s, said his former wife, Barbara Sinnott. He also helped in getting initial funding to renovate and expand the Pike Place Market.

Later, he ran R.L. Sinnott & Co., a Washington lobbying firm.

Mr. Sinnott, who in his spare time liked to golf, spend time with his 11-year-old son, Brendan Sinnott, and play with his dog, moved to Seattle in 1986 to work as a legislative consultant for the Bogle & Gates law firm. He continued to travel to Washington, D.C.

He subsequently worked for Seattle's Davis Wright & Jones law firm, and recently for the public policy firm Patton Boggs.

Clients had included Boeing, the Port of Oakland, Dallas-Fort Worth Airport, the National Football League and the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.

"He was always a gentleman but was always for his client's best interests," said Arbuckle.

In addition to his son and former wife, Mr. Sinnott's survivors include another son, Richard Larkin Sinnott Jr., Alexandria, Va.; daughters Margaret Mary Mejia, Jennifer Marie Sinnott and Anne Ryan Sinnott, all of Alexandria, Va.; and Elizabeth Ann Pash, New York; and seven grandchildren.

Mass is at 10 a.m. today at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1310 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island.

Donations may go to the Bainbridge Island Library, 1270 Madison Ave. N., Bainbridge Island, WA 98110.

Carole Beers' e-mail address is cbeers@seattletimes.com.