Frank Dupar Jr., prominent businessman, civic leader
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It was no secret to Frank Dupar Jr.'s seven children that he could lead and delegate. Every morning on their Woodinville ranch he'd give them lists of things to do to earn their allowance - building fences, herding cattle and so on.
Now that he's gone, they have lists handy of the accomplishments and many friendships their father quietly sowed throughout 79 years of productive living.
"That's one thing he taught us," said daughter Marsha Dupar. "We're good list-makers."
The son of the man who founded Western International Hotels (now Westin Hotels and Resorts), Mr. Dupar himself went on to become one of the area's most prominent businessmen and civic leaders.
A University of Washington graduate once named by Time magazine as one of "100 Young Newsmakers of Tomorrow," he was the founder of a hydraulic-components firm as well as chairman, president or director of several regional corporations.
Mr. Dupar died Monday (Feb. 26) of complications from surgery after a fall.
His eventful business career was preceded by a stint as a Naval lieutenant in World War II's Pacific theater. He and his wife, Melba, married in 1947.
Along with longtime friend Lamont McDonald, Mr. Dupar received his Time magazine honor in 1953 after working at Seattle's Palmer Supply Company, where he'd risen from a warehouse position to company president.
He founded components-maker Dupar Dynamics and went on to lead or serve on the boards of numerous regional firms, including Washington Teamsters Trust, Prudential Bank, Pacific Industrial Supplies, Tube Art Displays and the Music Hall Theater.
He also participated in community-service organizations such as the Seattle Foundation and Junior Achievement, and in November he was honored for 50 years of Rotary Club service.
He was giving of his time, advice and finances, and he did it all without claiming the spotlight.
"He never talked about it," said McDonald, a retired Frederick & Nelson executive.
Throughout his busy business career, Mr. Dupar found the time to be a family man, too. He passed his time attending Husky sports events, playing dominoes and solitaire and pursuing scientific interests such as genetics and the NASA space program.
Mr. Dupar was one of those early-to-bed, early-to-rise dads who'd pile the kids into the car for song-filled Sunday drives.
He was keen on old-fashioned, fair-to-middlin'-type colloquialisms. "We're off like a herd of turtles" was one of his favorites, daughter Shirlee Hargett said.
But there might have been nothing he wanted more than his own boat, and in 1979, he built his own 80-foot yacht and named it the Tranquility Base in honor of a NASA moon landing.
Summers were spent hauling family and friends on coastal cruises; his favorite spot - Princess Louisa Inlet at Canada's Chatterbox Falls - is where his family will scatter his ashes.
Mr. Dupar was preceded in death by his wife; his brother, Jack Dupar; and a sister, Dorothy Lynch.
He is survived by children Diana Lowe, of Alexander City, Ala.; Linda, of Mercer Island; Skip, of Bellevue; Marsha, of Kathmandu, Nepal; Eric, of Sammamish; Susan Tortorici, of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; Shirlee Hargett, of North Bend; and nine grandchildren.
He is also survived by brothers Robert of Kirkland; Thomas of Cathedral City, Calif.; James, of Seattle; the Rev. Kenneth, of Scotland; and sister Marilyn McIntosh of Vancouver, B.C.
A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. March 14, at First Presbyterian Church, 1717 Bellevue Way N.E., Bellevue.
The family suggests remembrances be made to the Dupar Foundation, 2730 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle, WA 98134-1836, or the Salk Institute, P.O. Box 85800, San Diego, CA 92186-5700.
Marc Ramirez can be reached at 206-464-8102 or mramirez@seattletimes.com