Ad Astra - Wally Bostick '52

Wally Bostick '52, Peter Apostolou '46, and Irish Coles '52 at a 2012 Fiji Luncheon

Reported by Irish Coles '52

Wally Bostick '52 ---Ad Astra (To the stars)   August 30th, 2015.

A very sad day.

An accomplished and extremely likable person,  Wally won the city high school tennis  championship as a senior @ West Seattle -- earned 3 big W's at the UW--and was number one tennis player in the

Northern Division 2 years running.  Wally made it to the quarter finals 7 straight years for the city championship at the Seattle Tennis Club.

Wally started his insurance agency from scratch which became highly successful.  In addition to a beautiful home on the East side, he wintered in LaQuinta in a home he owned on the local golf course.

He is survived by 2 lovely daughters.

A very loyal Fiji,  Wally is a good one and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

Irish Coles '52

Hello Clay, thank you so much for your note about Wally.  He was my father-in-law, as I was lucky enough to meet and marry his youngest daughter Kathy (Tri Delt @ UW).  Wally was such a tremendous guy, everyone's friend, and a true embodiment of the Husky Fiji persona!

His memorial service will be held Wednesday Sept 9th, 2PM at the Mercer Island Covenant Church.

Tom Browning

Class of '83

Other Info on Wally is in below obituary published in Seattle Times:

Wallace M. Bostick    1928 - 2015

When Wallace M. Bostick, 87, passed away on August 30, 2015, he took with him the loving bonds of his family and a huge collection of schoolmates, sports competitors and business associates who were privileged to be his friend. You were his friend from the first handshake. "Put it in the ol' bear trap" you would often hear him say.

Wally was born in Everett in 1928, but his parents, Ruth and Samuel Bostick raised him in West Seattle. As the third of four boys, he was raised in a competitive environment in which he flourished. Wally's prime sports interests at West Seattle High School were basketball and tennis at which he excelled. His selection for the U.S. Junior Davis Cup Team in 1943 was one of his proudest sports accomplishments.

After high school Wally attended Modesto Junior College and then transferred to the UW where he lettered in tennis for three years. He was a proud member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and graduated in 1952. The same year, he began his long, successful career in insurance. He owned Bostick-Monarch Insurance Agency until his retirement.

After winning the Washington State Tennis Championship in 1957, Wally went on a blind date with Gladys Cowan and they married the following year. They had two daughters, Jennifer and Kathryn.

In 1972, he married Betty Musson, with whom he lived on Mercer Island. He was a member of the Seattle Tennis Club and Overlake Country Club and enjoyed spending time in Palm Desert, CA. Following Betty's death in 2010, Wally moved to Parkshore Retirement Community in Seattle, where he resided until his death.

He is survived by Jennifer Bergquist (Tom), Kathryn Browning (Tom), Michelle Bostick, 4 grandsons; Carter Bergquist, Ryan Browning, Jackson Lowder, Spencer Lowder; extended family and many friends.

Wally will be remembered for his eternal optimism, engaging sense of humor, generosity of heart and devotion to his family and friends.

We will forever miss you Dad.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the University of Washington Foundation or a charity of your choice .