Veteran West Seattle journalist Tim St. Clair passes away

Just got sad news from editor Jack Mayne at the West Seattle Herald: Longtime reporter Tim St. Clair, 57, passed away last night after a battle with cancer, through which he continued to work — covering West Seattle issues, events, and people — almost up to the end. The Herald plans to have a story up soon with more details on Mr. St. Clair’s life and work (20 years covering West Seattle); Jack Mayne says, “He will be sorely missed by all of us and by the people he chronicled over the years. Tim was not just a reporter, he was a man who believed strongly in the people of West Seattle.” When the Herald’s obituary for Mr. St. Clair is up, we will link to it here, and will also update you on memorial plans. 11:39 AM UPDATE: The obituary is now posted on the Herald website.

Wes February 26, 2008 (9:03 am)

He was always kind and nice to me. I know he was loved greatly by the people at the Herald. He will be missed.

TeaLady February 26, 2008 (9:23 am)

He was so very welcoming to me when I first opened my shop in West Seattle. VERY kind and helpful. His family and friends are in my thoughts…

Pete February 26, 2008 (9:27 am)

Tim was truely an asset and friend to many community organizations throughout our West Seattle community and will be greatly missed. You always knew that when Tim asked questions he was going to get his facts straight and would write about the facts and not what he believed were the facts. Tim was always fair and straight forward in his reporting. He always had a smile on his face. I know I will miss seeing Tim around the community. RIP Tim St. Clair.

JE February 26, 2008 (9:36 am)

This is tragic news, indeed. Tim St. Clair embodied the values of investigative journalism–a crucial but disappearing ethic essential for a democratic society.

I am very sorry we’ve lost him. Condolences to his family and friends; I would have liked to have known him better.

James Bush February 26, 2008 (10:06 am)

Tim was an dedicated neighborhood journalist and functioned as the institutional memory for the Robinson Newspapers. He will be greatly missed by the community he served.

Sharonn February 26, 2008 (10:32 am)

Tim St. Clair was the essential glue that brought clarity and valuable discussion to the West Seattle Community. I have always appreciated and respected his many contributions and will miss him. We have lost a true neighbor and professional.

cami February 26, 2008 (11:00 am)

This is sad news for our community. Tim showed up at so many meetings covering our neighborhood news. He will be missed.

Chris Arkills February 26, 2008 (11:38 am)

Tim was one of the hardest working journalists I know. He was true to his profession until the very end covering meetings in the last week on the viaduct and other issues. I will miss seeing him around.

Bonnie February 26, 2008 (1:14 pm)

He will be missed….

Ryan & Katie February 26, 2008 (4:33 pm)

We were lucky enough to be next door neighbors with Tim for a few years here in West Seattle. He was always so friendly to us and had such a positive attitude. I’ll never forget seeing the two wagging tails of our dogs with four of Tim’s fingers pressed through the fence scratching snouts and chins. We’ll never forget his kindness.

Jack Mayne, Editor, The Herald February 26, 2008 (5:12 pm)

We all appreciate the wonderful things said here and elsewhere by people honoring the extraordinary Tim St. Clair. We invite everyone to come to the West Seattle Herald Web site to leave messages about the serious, the fun, the touching memories of this man.

If you leave us your first and last names, we will publish your letter also in the March 5 issue honoring Tim.

West Seattle has lost a wonderful member of its community.

chas redmond February 26, 2008 (6:27 pm)

Tim was and will remain a consummate gentleman and an honored member of the journalism profession. I used to see him working in his yard by the Kinney when I would walk down that way to Lincoln Park (or more specifically, Lowman Beach). I’d see him at every community meeting be it for a sidewalk, park, Monorail or bus system. He spent a lot of time downtown at the former Seattle Monorail Project’s public meeting room bringing home whatever news there was – good or bad.
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I will miss him. I had the great pleasure the last couple of months of being with him a lot and was always taken and heartened by his unwavering optimism and positive outlook. That’s an incredible legacy. A thousand kudos to Robinson News for giving such an essential position as local news reporter to such an extraordinary individual. Even when I was with Tim individually, on his street, I always wondered what new breaking news he was working on. He definitely loved West Seattle.

miws February 26, 2008 (6:50 pm)

How sad and shocking. I didn’t realize Tim had been fighting cancer.

I don’t recall ever meeting Tim in person, but seeing his Byline in the Herald, was always like seeing the name of an old friend

My condolences to Tim’s family, friends, and the Herald staff.

Mike

Jaime Stranslon February 26, 2008 (7:08 pm)

I didn’t have the pleasure of knowing Tim, but I just had to weigh in to say: Can’t we just say that he died? Why is it that people insist on using that somewhat vulgar, Victorian term “passed away.” You might as well say he passed on or was taken to Jesus. Please just say he died.

LA in the Junction February 26, 2008 (8:45 pm)

What a loss. As a subscriber to the Herald from the day we moved to West Seattle, I can say Tim will be truly missed. I look forward to seeing the tribute issue. My heart goes out to his family and friends.

MW February 26, 2008 (9:05 pm)

Sad news. My heart goes out to everyone he touched. He was a great guy – even keeled, always interested in everything West Seattle. He will be missed.
Mark

Jim February 27, 2008 (1:19 am)

I remember not long after Editor Jack Mayne had started at the paper. It was the Monday morning after Sunday’s Hi-Yu Scholarship Pageant. I had assembled a series of pictures of the new Miss West Seattle and an article all written up for the next days edition. As usual it was way pass the deadline, and my wife dropped it off at the paper just as soon as the Herald office opened. While at the office, Mr Mayne started to lecture to my wife, that they couldn’t just drop everything to get this article in the paper, at which point Tim walked by, grabbed the materials, and said to Mr. Mayne “Oh yes we can”. And that was the end of the discussion.

DEBRA SMITH February 28, 2008 (9:11 pm)

HE WILL BE MISSED BY ALL THE LADIES AT LINDA’S FLOWERS, GREAT MAN! OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS GO OUT TO HIS FAMILY.THIS IS A LOSS FOR NOT ONLY HIS FAMILY BUT ALSO WEST SEATTLE.

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