Former Wash. state Gov. Booth Gardner dies at age 76
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OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - Booth Gardner was a two-term governor whose biggest political effort came long after he left the Washington state Capitol.
Gardner, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years after he ended his final term as the state's 19th governor, spearheaded a campaign that made Washington the second state in the country to legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
While Gardner knew he wouldn't qualify to use the law - Parkinson's disease itself, while incurable, is not fatal - he said at the time that his worsening condition made him an advocate for those who want control over how they die.
He died at age 76 on Friday at his Tacoma home of complications related to the disease, family spokesman Ron Dotzauer said Saturday. He is survived by his son, Doug, his daughter, Gail Gant, and eight grandchildren.
"We're very sad to lose my father, who had been struggling with a difficult disease for many years, but we are relieved to know that he's at rest now and his fight is done," Gant said in a written statement.
The millionaire heir to the Weyerhaeuser timber fortune led the state from 1985 to 1993 following terms as Pierce County executive, state senator and business school dean.
Since then, he had worked as a U.S. trade ambassador in Geneva, in youth sports and for a variety of philanthropic works. But he may be best known for what he called his final campaign: his successful "Death with Dignity" campaign in 2008 that ultimately led to the passage of the law that mirrored one that had been in place in Oregon since 1997.
"It's amazing to me how much this can help people get peace of mind," Gardner told The Associated Press at the time. "There's more people who would like to have control over their final days than those who don't."
The law allows terminally ill adults with six months or less left to live to request a lethal dose of medication from their doctors.
The Washington law took effect in March 2009, and since then more than 250 people have used it to obtain lethal doses of medication.
A documentary about that campaign, "The Last Campaign of Booth Gardner," was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010. A biography published by the Washington state Heritage Center's Legacy Project, titled "Booth Who?" - after a campaign slogan on political buttons created during his first run for governor - was published that same year.
William Booth Gardner was born Aug. 21, 1936, in Tacoma to his socialite mother, Evelyn Booth and Bryson "Brick" Gardner. According to his biography, he was first named Frederick, but a few days after his birth, his parents changed his birth certificate, crossing out Frederick and replacing it with William.
While even Gardner reportedly didn't know what led to that early confusion over his name, the change to William was believed to be a nod to his paternal grandfather, who had founded a successful plumbing and heating business in Tacoma. Even so, Gardner always went by "Booth."
His parents divorced when he was 4 and his mother remarried Norton Clapp, one of the state's wealthiest citizens who was a former president of Weyerhaeuser and was one of a group of industrialists who helped build the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair.
Gardner had his share of tragedy: his mother and 13-year-old sister were killed in a plane crash in 1951 and his father, who had struggled with alcohol, fell to his death from a ninth-floor Honolulu hotel room balcony in 1966.
Clapp remained a presence in Gardner's life, and though he was a Republican, he made significant donations to both of Gardner's gubernatorial runs.
In November 1984, Gardner beat Republican Gov. John Spellman with 53 percent of the vote, winning 23 of the state's 39 counties.
"Booth's imprint on our state will long be seen in our classrooms and the many open spaces he fought to protect. Up until the very end of his life Booth remained a fighter for the issues he cared most about -- those of us who knew him couldn't have imagined it any other way," Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said in a written statement.
During his two terms, Gardner pushed for standards-based education reform, issued an executive order banning discrimination against gay and lesbian state workers, banned smoking in state workplaces, and appointed the state's first minority to the state Supreme Court. The state's Basic Health Care program for the poor was launched in 1987 and was the first of its kind in the country.
Toward the end of his first term, he appointed Chris Gregoire, then an assistant attorney general, as head of the Department of Ecology. Gregoire went on to be attorney general, and then governor. Gardner was easily re-elected in 1988, garnering 62 percent of the vote. In his second term, he and Gregoire, then attorney general, secured an agreement with the federal government that the nuclear waste at Hanford nuclear site would be cleaned up in the coming decades, and Gardner banned any further shipments of radioactive waste to Hanford from other states. The state Department of Health was also created under his watch.
"He will be remembered as a leader whose natural style of civility, respectfulness and collaboration served our state very well. We could certainly use more Booth Gardners today," said U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, who served as Gardner's chief of staff during his second term.
Gregoire, who stepped down as governor in January after not seeking a third term, called Gardner's death "a huge loss to the state."
"He was a guy where you could disagree with him on an issue, but you could never be disagreeable with him, because he would never be disagreeable with you" Gregoire told The Associated Press. "He was a unique talent."
In 1991, Gardner announced he wouldn't seek a third term, saying he was "out of gas." He went on to become the U.S. ambassador to the General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade in Geneva. While abroad, in 1995, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Gardner didn't make his battle with the disease public until 2000, when he discussed it in an interview on TVW, the state's public affairs network. That same year, he launched a clinic in Kirkland, the Booth Gardner Parkinson's Care Center.
He announced his plan for a ballot measure to allow assisted suicide in 2006 as he continued to battle Parkinson's. Twice in 2007, he traveled to the University of California at San Francisco for innovative deep-brain surgery that included implanting a type of pacemaker that helps restore control of his body.
Washington state had already rejected a similar assisted suicide initiative in 1991, but after a contentious campaign, where Gardner contributed $470,000 of his own money of the $4.9 million raised in support of the measure, nearly 58 percent of voters approved the new law in 2008.
In his biography, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, he responded, "I tried to help people."
"I got out of the office and talked with real people, and I think I made a difference."
Gardner, who was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease two years after he ended his final term as the state's 19th governor, spearheaded a campaign that made Washington the second state in the country to legalize assisted suicide for the terminally ill.
While Gardner knew he wouldn't qualify to use the law - Parkinson's disease itself, while incurable, is not fatal - he said at the time that his worsening condition made him an advocate for those who want control over how they die.
He died at age 76 on Friday at his Tacoma home of complications related to the disease, family spokesman Ron Dotzauer said Saturday. He is survived by his son, Doug, his daughter, Gail Gant, and eight grandchildren.
"We're very sad to lose my father, who had been struggling with a difficult disease for many years, but we are relieved to know that he's at rest now and his fight is done," Gant said in a written statement.
The millionaire heir to the Weyerhaeuser timber fortune led the state from 1985 to 1993 following terms as Pierce County executive, state senator and business school dean.
Since then, he had worked as a U.S. trade ambassador in Geneva, in youth sports and for a variety of philanthropic works. But he may be best known for what he called his final campaign: his successful "Death with Dignity" campaign in 2008 that ultimately led to the passage of the law that mirrored one that had been in place in Oregon since 1997.
"It's amazing to me how much this can help people get peace of mind," Gardner told The Associated Press at the time. "There's more people who would like to have control over their final days than those who don't."
The law allows terminally ill adults with six months or less left to live to request a lethal dose of medication from their doctors.
The Washington law took effect in March 2009, and since then more than 250 people have used it to obtain lethal doses of medication.
A documentary about that campaign, "The Last Campaign of Booth Gardner," was nominated for an Academy Award in 2010. A biography published by the Washington state Heritage Center's Legacy Project, titled "Booth Who?" - after a campaign slogan on political buttons created during his first run for governor - was published that same year.
William Booth Gardner was born Aug. 21, 1936, in Tacoma to his socialite mother, Evelyn Booth and Bryson "Brick" Gardner. According to his biography, he was first named Frederick, but a few days after his birth, his parents changed his birth certificate, crossing out Frederick and replacing it with William.
While even Gardner reportedly didn't know what led to that early confusion over his name, the change to William was believed to be a nod to his paternal grandfather, who had founded a successful plumbing and heating business in Tacoma. Even so, Gardner always went by "Booth."
His parents divorced when he was 4 and his mother remarried Norton Clapp, one of the state's wealthiest citizens who was a former president of Weyerhaeuser and was one of a group of industrialists who helped build the Space Needle for the 1962 World's Fair.
Gardner had his share of tragedy: his mother and 13-year-old sister were killed in a plane crash in 1951 and his father, who had struggled with alcohol, fell to his death from a ninth-floor Honolulu hotel room balcony in 1966.
Clapp remained a presence in Gardner's life, and though he was a Republican, he made significant donations to both of Gardner's gubernatorial runs.
In November 1984, Gardner beat Republican Gov. John Spellman with 53 percent of the vote, winning 23 of the state's 39 counties.
"Booth's imprint on our state will long be seen in our classrooms and the many open spaces he fought to protect. Up until the very end of his life Booth remained a fighter for the issues he cared most about -- those of us who knew him couldn't have imagined it any other way," Democratic U.S. Sen. Patty Murray said in a written statement.
During his two terms, Gardner pushed for standards-based education reform, issued an executive order banning discrimination against gay and lesbian state workers, banned smoking in state workplaces, and appointed the state's first minority to the state Supreme Court. The state's Basic Health Care program for the poor was launched in 1987 and was the first of its kind in the country.
Toward the end of his first term, he appointed Chris Gregoire, then an assistant attorney general, as head of the Department of Ecology. Gregoire went on to be attorney general, and then governor. Gardner was easily re-elected in 1988, garnering 62 percent of the vote. In his second term, he and Gregoire, then attorney general, secured an agreement with the federal government that the nuclear waste at Hanford nuclear site would be cleaned up in the coming decades, and Gardner banned any further shipments of radioactive waste to Hanford from other states. The state Department of Health was also created under his watch.
"He will be remembered as a leader whose natural style of civility, respectfulness and collaboration served our state very well. We could certainly use more Booth Gardners today," said U.S. Rep. Denny Heck, who served as Gardner's chief of staff during his second term.
Gregoire, who stepped down as governor in January after not seeking a third term, called Gardner's death "a huge loss to the state."
"He was a guy where you could disagree with him on an issue, but you could never be disagreeable with him, because he would never be disagreeable with you" Gregoire told The Associated Press. "He was a unique talent."
In 1991, Gardner announced he wouldn't seek a third term, saying he was "out of gas." He went on to become the U.S. ambassador to the General Agreement on Tariffs & Trade in Geneva. While abroad, in 1995, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Gardner didn't make his battle with the disease public until 2000, when he discussed it in an interview on TVW, the state's public affairs network. That same year, he launched a clinic in Kirkland, the Booth Gardner Parkinson's Care Center.
He announced his plan for a ballot measure to allow assisted suicide in 2006 as he continued to battle Parkinson's. Twice in 2007, he traveled to the University of California at San Francisco for innovative deep-brain surgery that included implanting a type of pacemaker that helps restore control of his body.
Washington state had already rejected a similar assisted suicide initiative in 1991, but after a contentious campaign, where Gardner contributed $470,000 of his own money of the $4.9 million raised in support of the measure, nearly 58 percent of voters approved the new law in 2008.
In his biography, when asked how he wanted to be remembered, he responded, "I tried to help people."
"I got out of the office and talked with real people, and I think I made a difference."
God speed Booth.
My condolences go out to his family and friends.... and my appreciation for Gov. Gardner's boldness and tenacity to spearhead the legislation which would eventually give those dealing with a painful, terminal illness a way to choose their own destiny. If it were not for this man, my Mother would not have had the option of ending her painful battle on HER own terms. And though in the end she did not exercise the option provided under the law, it was a relief to know it existed if she wished for it. Thank you, Gov. Gardner. May you rest in peace.
RIP Booth.Â
I didn't always agree with Gov. Gardner, but unlike Christine 'Gambles With Wolves' Gregoire, I always respected him. His positions were well thought-out and he always sought to bring those who disagreed with him on board of his initiatives. He was a moderate Democrat who put his duty to the people of the State over the wants and needs of the Democratic Party by and large.
I will miss Booth Gardner and I'm damned sorry he passed away as he did. My sincere regards, respects and regrets to his family and friends.
One summer we attended Marilyn Rassmussen's cornfeed.Dan and I took our three daughters and had told them that the governor was going to be there. Arriving we saw all the cars in the field that were parked and could hear the people laughing and talking. We told the girls to be on their best behavior and manners :).  The line was forming to get our food and Kristen was ahead of me, when a man "crowded" in front of her. She looked up as he said "do you mind if I get in front of you?" It got real quiet and she said  "well if you need to I guess so" with a kind of puzzled look on her face. I quickly said, "Kristen that's ok, that's  Governor Gardner and he is a busy man".  They were talking about all the good food and he asked her if she would like to sit with him a while to eat and visit.  So the two of them went off to a table and ate and visited for about 15 minutes. She was so excited and we were so impressed that he took the time to visit with our little girl on that summer day. In February was Kristens birthday and she wanted to invite Booth to her party (that's what he said to call him) so we sent the invite and waited.  A big envelope arrived a few days later and in it was a letter saying he would have loved to come to her special day but he had prior commitments.  He also said in big letters  "KRISTEN, KEEP DREAMING BIG DREAMS!   Booth~    Since that day, our family as always as felt we got to see the man he was, a very compassionate man who took the time to to make our little girl feel very special...even if he did crowd in front of her :)
I will miss Booth. As a state employee, I was sitting at my computer in my cubicle, working on a case. I sensed someone come into my cubie so I turned around and it was Booth. He thanked me for the work I was doing for Washington's people, asked me a little about my background,and was very interested in my job. He was on his way from Portland to Olympia and randomly decided to stop at our office just to talk with folks. He called it MBWA (Management By Walking Around). I considered him a great Governor and a great man. He also became a friend. RIP Governor, your suffering has come to an end. Blessings.
Thank you for your service and RIP.
George Vreeland Hill
Govenor Booth was a good man and he did care about the people he was governed by principals not party. The only thing I disagree with him on would be the right to die. If he was ok with some one killing themselves over illness. Why was he against the death penalty?
@Exiled_Patriot Well I happen to be in favor of both right to die (if terminally ill)
and the death penalty, but I don't see how they are related... even if someone convicted of a crime warranting the DP wanted to be executed, if he's not terminally ill, it's an altogether different situation.
As a conservative lumber mill owner in Washington State, I had the privilege of working with Booth on a number of occasions. While we disagreed on some issues, he truly put the needs of people in front of the needs for political gain. What a great man, Washington lost a true leader. Rest in peace, my friend.Â
R.I.P. ⥠My Friend â¥
Rest in peace, man. Wish you could have been governor forever. You were the last honorable one.
My condolences to his family.
He was a great governor. RIP.
Every so often a true leader emerges from the cesspool that is politics. Governor Gardner was a leader with vision, compassion and ability to bring folks together. I will remember him as a class act both during his political life and after. Sincere condolences to the family.
Thank you for your service to our state sir... my condolences to your family
He used to visit my school all the time. Very nice man. Sad to hear this. RIP
I was 10 in 1989 when my class traveled from Tacoma to Olympia to take part in the states 100th anniversary. My class was lucky to got a meet and greet with him during lunch, I still treasure those photos.
This is a sad day in Washington State history. I had the honor of meeting him several times and he was always a dignified, warm and gentle man.Â
He did much good work after leaving office. And helped many. He was a good man. Rest In Peace
Watching someone wither away has to be one of the most difficult and painful things in life. I'm glad he's at rest now and his family can find peace in that. And btw, those of you who can actually talk smack amaze me. I get that this is a forum and we all get to speak our minds but don't you feel it's slightly disrespectful?? Maybe this is one of those times where if you don't have anything nice to say you just shouldn't say anything at all.
He was part of a group of investors that bought the company I worked for. Just about put us out of business but luckily we were sold to people that knew what they were doing.
I remember his days in office very fondly, he was a great man who continued to serve us all after his Governorship was over. It's sad to see him go this young. Rest in peace & thank you to Booth Gardner!Â
A truly great man and governor. RIP Governor!Â
@ Atila:
The man is DEAD - he died from a terrible, dibitating disease, which he battled with grace and dignity.
Couldn't you show some respect? Did you have to come & spout your political nonsense? As Magdalena Bujak stated:
      ".... Although I do not agree with his political views I will not discuss or even have gall to mention this on these comments. Please, I hope no one comments, about opposing views of politics here. ..."
I was always taught to show respect for people who have died - you may not have liked or agreed with them, but you should at least show them the respect of not speaking ill of the fead.. I was also taught that if you cannot say something nice, do not say anything at all. He is dead - let him rest in peace.
Try showing a little respect, have the class to NOT come off like a nasty raving lunatic when nearly all here are showing their respect, wishing the family healing & peace.
Rest in peace Booth - you did a good job, better than most. You caered about people, you did your best to help them, and you were a People's Governor - approachable, not afraid to get your hands dirty and you went out among the citizens to get a first hand look at the issues.
Like the way Liberals posted when Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan died from Alzheimers?
I've linked your profile to the definition of moron.Â
@AttilaCome on Atilla, let's take the high road. "Like the way Liberals posted when Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan died from Alzheimers?" - you don't want to be like them, do you?
You just lost any and all credibility with your response to Attila the moron.
I thought and still do, that Governor Gardner's push for "Death with Dignity" was a clear sign of a man who was thinking about the respect of the people he represented. Not a whole lot of that kind of thinking these days. Sorry to hear that he had to suffer through that terrible disease. And still he kept fighting for the rights of others. Truly inspiring.
@ExcoastieÂ
GREAT post. Â He was truly inspiring.
My condolences to the family. Although I do not agree with his political views I will not discuss or even have gall to mention this on these comments. Please, I hope no one comments, about opposing views of politics here. May God help the family in this time of grief. Death is but a moment but eternity is blessed in the Lord. Praying comforts from the Lord are upon all close to him.
Little known fact that he also was Hendrix's football coach at I believe Garfield High.
@Zoso Interesting
RIP, Governor. The battle was a long and arduous one, but you were a combatant for all til' the end.
RIP, Governor Gardner. While I disagreed with much of your politics I always felt you were an honest politician--if there is such a thing. I was privileged to pair up with Booth and his working class golfing buddy once years ago. Spending 18 holes together facing the frustration of playing that insane game really reveals someone's character. Booth's character was settled and decent the entire time.Â
Hope to see you again when my time comes.
Deep Brain Stimulation is an amazing operation, both for Parkinson's and for Essential Tremor. Not to mention other disorders. I'm sorry that it didn't help Mr. Gardner more.
By far my favorite governor. Maybe because 85-93 was a good time for Washington without all the negative effects of the last 20.
He was part of a long line of Democratic Party Aparatchiks (Lowery, Locke, Gregoire, etc.) who are systematically wrecking Washington State by turning it into a liberal mirror image of California.
@Attila I suggest you move to a Red State where you can live in fear for the rest of your misguided life.
@attila, get out of America if you don't like it here. Out of the last 25 some odd years, Gardener and Locke are the only Governors anyone liked. The rest drove our state in the ground and watched it burn.
@takncarabizniz  WHY would anyone defend that moron?
@takncarabizniz  because he's a hate-filled idiot?  He said a stupid statement and then when he is called on it, he comes up with a vanilla answer of "The liberals did it first"? Get it?
Why would you be chastizing attila for a truth about how liberals have often vilified and spewed hatred when someone of conservative means passes on? Differing of opinions occurs and is protected.
@Attila Always nice to see the compassionate conservative's come out for a funeral.Â
Stay classy.
So differing of opinions is not allowed in this state? For those of us who respected and voted for people like Booth and Gary Locke, seeing what others have done is a real slap in the face.
Like the way Liberals posted when Charlton Heston and Ronald Reagan died from Alzheimers?
@Attila So your're going with the 2 wrongs make a right?Â
This makes you the exact same as the "liberals" with whom you seem to have an OCD issue. You're acting like the people you seem to despise.Â
I think he was far more level-headed than most...I did like Gary Locke as well, in decency and decorum. I would say that Mr. Gardner's one mistake was appointing Christine Gregoire to anything. Her lifetime of public leaching led to much of this state's downturn.
Rip.
Parkinson disease is horrible