in memory of a great man....
Kenneth D. "Ken" La Fountaine
Kenneth "Ken" D. La FOUNTAINE Ken La Fountaine, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, beloved husband of Beth La Fountaine left this world on April 24, 2006 surrounded by his soul mate, family and friends. Ken was born on August 15, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, to Peter and Edla La Fontaine. Ken was raised in Seattle and Edmonds and graduated from Meadowdale High School in 1967. He graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Native American Studies in 1974 and graduated with a Masters of Public Administration in Tribal Governance in 2004. A tenured Professor at Shoreline Community College he taught Multicultural Studies for 34 years and left a legacy of students and faculty who loved and honored him. Ken was active in the First Nations Club serving as advisor; he planned and implemented three Native American Symposiums put on by the club. Ken is well respected and well loved by Native American students and educators as well as by the greater Seattle education community. He served on many boards and committees dealing with diversity and higher education. He mentored many students throughout his years of teaching and those students went on to become leaders within their communities in many different disciplines including law, arts and medicine. He was the consummate host and enjoyed companionship with all. He treated every guest in his home like royalty. He loved to laugh and was the king of the "one liner". Ken was a long time Husky fan, Seahawks fan and Thunderbird fan. He loved to golf. Some of his favorite past times were to go golfing with his wife, Beth, travel to visit his many friends, and bicycling around the city. Ken is survived by the love of his life, Beth, father, Peter La Fontaine, brother, Allan La Fontaine, sisters, Ramona Menish (Joe) and Kathleen Gilbo (Bob), special in-laws and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends and his kitty. A Celebration of Ken's Life will be held on Friday, April 28, 2006, at Shoreline Community College gymnasium, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. "Probably me more than anybody on the face of the earth, I have had one of the best lives that any one human being can ever hope to have." In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, The Ken LaFountaine Endowed Diversity Scholarship. This endowment was created in honor of Ken's advocacy for underrepresented students in pursuit of higher education (www.uwfoundation.org/diversity) or Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
I realized, just now, from reading the last line of the obituary that Ken must have been fighting with cancer. I feel like he won - very few people I know have profoundly affected the lives of so many. I really really mean that. I miss all those mornings that he would bounce into class with a coffee and some form of Husky paraphenalia, but even more I pity the students who never heard those amazing lectures, those strange rants, or those heartfelt calls for peace and righteousness.
so, a few things to know about Ken if you didn't know him yourself:
- he was truly inspirational, in that way that just commands reverence
- i would've liked to have a beer with this man (he understood the goodness of microbrew)
- he was one of the best teacher's i've ever had
- he was a downright phenomenal teacher (see above. point being, everyone and their mom knows it and remembers him by it)
- he was funny, brilliant, and spiritual
- he knew his shit
- he was truly kind and caring
- he made you think (and me)
- he liked beer and golf
- he is the only person who ever wrote a nice, personal, inspiring and touching note on the back of a paper of mine. i will never forget that small gesture from someone who i didn't think knew my name
point being, this guy was really extraordinary. the first thing i said when Chris told me was "but i never got to send him a letter." after reading his obituary and Shoreline's posting, and his online "guest book," i'm relieved to see that of course - everyone has made it as clear as we possibly can how much he meant and what a difference he made.
so take a moment, for Ken, to think about what you can do to make the world an even better place than he already has. go learn about another culture. read a book about what REALLY happened in Vietnam. think about the people you come from and how they made you who they are. and of course, most importantly, smile and make someone's day - you know Ken would've.
thanks, LaFountaine, for reminding me to be better and being such a positive influence in this world. i honestly hope there's something better out there, because we all know you earned it....
if you like, take a moment to go read about Ken here:
http://www.legacy.com/nwclassifieds/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=17544093
Kenneth "Ken" D. La FOUNTAINE Ken La Fountaine, an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, beloved husband of Beth La Fountaine left this world on April 24, 2006 surrounded by his soul mate, family and friends. Ken was born on August 15, 1949 in Seattle, Washington, to Peter and Edla La Fontaine. Ken was raised in Seattle and Edmonds and graduated from Meadowdale High School in 1967. He graduated from The Evergreen State College with a degree in Native American Studies in 1974 and graduated with a Masters of Public Administration in Tribal Governance in 2004. A tenured Professor at Shoreline Community College he taught Multicultural Studies for 34 years and left a legacy of students and faculty who loved and honored him. Ken was active in the First Nations Club serving as advisor; he planned and implemented three Native American Symposiums put on by the club. Ken is well respected and well loved by Native American students and educators as well as by the greater Seattle education community. He served on many boards and committees dealing with diversity and higher education. He mentored many students throughout his years of teaching and those students went on to become leaders within their communities in many different disciplines including law, arts and medicine. He was the consummate host and enjoyed companionship with all. He treated every guest in his home like royalty. He loved to laugh and was the king of the "one liner". Ken was a long time Husky fan, Seahawks fan and Thunderbird fan. He loved to golf. Some of his favorite past times were to go golfing with his wife, Beth, travel to visit his many friends, and bicycling around the city. Ken is survived by the love of his life, Beth, father, Peter La Fontaine, brother, Allan La Fontaine, sisters, Ramona Menish (Joe) and Kathleen Gilbo (Bob), special in-laws and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, many friends and his kitty. A Celebration of Ken's Life will be held on Friday, April 28, 2006, at Shoreline Community College gymnasium, from 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. "Probably me more than anybody on the face of the earth, I have had one of the best lives that any one human being can ever hope to have." In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to, The Ken LaFountaine Endowed Diversity Scholarship. This endowment was created in honor of Ken's advocacy for underrepresented students in pursuit of higher education (www.uwfoundation.org/diversity) or Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.
I realized, just now, from reading the last line of the obituary that Ken must have been fighting with cancer. I feel like he won - very few people I know have profoundly affected the lives of so many. I really really mean that. I miss all those mornings that he would bounce into class with a coffee and some form of Husky paraphenalia, but even more I pity the students who never heard those amazing lectures, those strange rants, or those heartfelt calls for peace and righteousness.
so, a few things to know about Ken if you didn't know him yourself:
- he was truly inspirational, in that way that just commands reverence
- i would've liked to have a beer with this man (he understood the goodness of microbrew)
- he was one of the best teacher's i've ever had
- he was a downright phenomenal teacher (see above. point being, everyone and their mom knows it and remembers him by it)
- he was funny, brilliant, and spiritual
- he knew his shit
- he was truly kind and caring
- he made you think (and me)
- he liked beer and golf
- he is the only person who ever wrote a nice, personal, inspiring and touching note on the back of a paper of mine. i will never forget that small gesture from someone who i didn't think knew my name
point being, this guy was really extraordinary. the first thing i said when Chris told me was "but i never got to send him a letter." after reading his obituary and Shoreline's posting, and his online "guest book," i'm relieved to see that of course - everyone has made it as clear as we possibly can how much he meant and what a difference he made.
so take a moment, for Ken, to think about what you can do to make the world an even better place than he already has. go learn about another culture. read a book about what REALLY happened in Vietnam. think about the people you come from and how they made you who they are. and of course, most importantly, smile and make someone's day - you know Ken would've.
thanks, LaFountaine, for reminding me to be better and being such a positive influence in this world. i honestly hope there's something better out there, because we all know you earned it....
if you like, take a moment to go read about Ken here:
http://www.legacy.com/nwclassifieds/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=17544093