Ray Christophersen, 73, Retired Ballard High School Principal

Years after Ray Christophersen left his teaching job at Monroe High School to join the Seattle School District, former students would track him down at his home in Seattle to thank him for helping them.

These were the kids he would hand $20 from his wallet if they needed money, kids who would show up at his door needing help, sometimes in tears, recalled his wife, Cleo Christophersen.

"He's always been that way," she said. "He got along well with students. He knew how to talk to them." That love of young people kept him in education - as teacher, counselor and principal - for 38 years.

Mr. Christophersen died Thursday (Oct. 23) of a heart attack at age 73, seven years after his retirement as principal at Ballard High School, one month after his 50th wedding anniversary.

Mr. Christophersen was born in Duluth, Minn. His parents, Norwegian immigrants, moved to Kirkland, then Seattle, where he grew up attending Seattle public schools. He graduated from Ballard High School in 1942.

He worked as a welder in the shipyards for a year, then joined the Navy as a metalsmith stationed on the USS Proteus, a submarine tender, in the South Pacific during World War II.

Mr. Christophersen was discharged in 1946 and about a year later enrolled at the University of Washington, graduating in 1952. He also was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps.

He began his career teaching in Monroe, then moved to West Seattle High School as a counselor and teacher in 1956, and then to Rainier Beach High School as a business-education teacher, department head and finally vice principal. In 1972 he was named vice principal of West Seattle High School and principal there in 1980.

In 1984, he was assigned to Ballard, a homecoming for the Ballard grad. That was the same year he retired as a colonel from the Army reserves. He retired from his principalship at Ballard in 1990 after a stroke that left him partly paralyzed.

Some called Mr. Christophersen "a kid's principal" who was always visible in the hallways, saying hello to students, attending games and school events. "He was much like a father figure in the building, particularly to the staff," said Ballard Principal Chuck Chinn, who succeeded Mr. Christophersen.

"He was a very fine person, kind of humble, no pretense, no ostentatiousness," said School Board member Ellen Roe.

Mr. Christophersen dedicated long hours to his job. His son, Eric, remembers going to the schools with his father on the weekends, helping him run copies or unpack boxes. His family often accompanied him in his travels to education conferences and seminars.

Mr. Christophersen was active in education groups such as the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Emeritus Club, a group of retired educators. He also was involved with other organizations - Rotary groups in West Seattle and Ballard, the Reserve Officers Association, the Masons Lodge 287, the Associated Recreation Council. He sang with the Norwegian Male Chorus for about 10 years.

He continued to be active at Ballard after his retirement, visiting the school to talk to faculty members. He planned to be at last weekend's groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Ballard High.

Mr. Christophersen enjoyed skiing, bowling, walking and traveling. In the years since his stroke, he had made progress with the help of physical therapy and had even met his goal of being able to drive again, his wife said.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Christophersen is survived by three sisters and a brother in Seattle: Solveig Jahn, Elsa Johnson, Marion Nordstrom and Roy Christophersen. He also is survived by his brother, Howard Christophersen of Beaverton, Ore., and four grandsons.

Services will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the chapel at Evergreen-Washelli Funeral Home, 11111 Aurora Ave. N. Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, the American Heart Association or any veterans group.

Jolayne Houtz's phone message number is 206-464-3122. Her e-mail address is: jhou-new@seatimes.com