Evelyn Sacks Kaufman

May 28, 1919 – March 12, 2009

Evelyn Kaufman, longtime Medina resident and beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully on March 12 from complications resulting from Alzheimer’s disease. She was 89.Born in New York City in 1919, she was an off-Broadway stage actress in her early years. Evelyn earned a B.A. degree from American University, and later pursued a Master’s at U.C. Berkeley.During the Second World War, she worked at the War Department in Washington, D.C., where she was a correspondence clerk and was credited with the idea behind a dispensing machine for war stamps. Evelyn met her husband, Don, during a vacation in Colorado and soon became a military wife, moving several times within the U.S. The couple was delighted with the Paciÿ c Northwest and settled in Washington when he retired from the Army. Evelyn volunteered at the Medina Elementary School for many years and was also involved in local arts and political organizations.She fought a successful battle against lymphoma in the 1990s. Her devoted husband Don predeceased her in January, 2008 at age 94. Known as a warm and genuine person, Evelyn was passionate about her family and friends and a supporter of women’s and children’s issues. She had wide interests, and loved to get at the heart of important issues and debates. Her intellect and positive spirit, as well as her trademark smile, are missed by those who were close to her.Evelyn is survived by her son Les (Laurie) Kaufman and granddaughter in Hailey, ID, and daughter Laura Kaufman and grandson in Lafayette, CA. She is also survived by a sister and brother and their families, as well as relatives and friends on both coasts.Contributions in Evelyn’s memory may be made to the Kline Galland Center in Seattle, 1200 University St., Ste. 101, Seattle, WA 98101, or to the Alzheimer’s Association.

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