Randy Rossland

September 12, 1963 – August 20, 2024

“Goodbyes are only for those who love with their eyes. Because for those who love with heart and soul there is no such thing as separation.” – Rumi

Randy entered the world with his trademark impish smile and twinkling blue eyes, befitting his spirit of adventure. He closed those blue eyes for the last time at 7.37am on Aug 20th, 2024.

Randy was born at Seattle General hospital on Sept 12th, 1963 to Jo (Simonson) and Richard J. Rossland who lavished him with love throughout his life. His siblings Rick, Tawni, plus step-brothers Greg and Venu, shared many happy memories growing up amongst their blended families. His formative years in the 1970’s and 80’s were filled with love, laughter and mischief!

A Seattle native, he attended Mountlake Terrace High School (’81) and went on to college at the University of Washington, earning a BA in Business and an MBA (’87). His mathematical acumen led him to a career in finance and operational logistics. He worked at several high-profile law firms in Seattle, winding up his career at RadarWorks advertising agency in Belltown.

Music was an important passion throughout Randy’s life. Growing up at the epicenter of the NW grunge scene of the 90’s, he was a regular concert goer and active in many bands as the steady bass player. He played with The Runaway Trains, Lumpy, Pathetic Wannabees and the Free Range Chickens, to name just a few of the notable rock groups he was part of. His big moment in the spotlight was being in the opening act for his rock idols, the Young Fresh Fellows. For him, playing gigs with his close-knit circle of friends – whether it was in High School auditoriums, smokey dive bars or at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater – gave him so much satisfaction.

Randy was happiest when exploring the great outdoors. He was an avid rock climber, mountaineer, and backpacker. Following the trails of legendary ‘dirtbag’ climber, Fred Becky, he summited many peaks in the North Cascades, the Olympics, Mt. Baker & Mt. Rainer. He climbed vertical rock faces further afield in Yosemite National Park and Joshua Tree and roamed endless canyons in the four corners of the Southwest. His day jobs as a finance manager were a means to support his desire to buy the latest gear from REI and Feathered Friends for his outdoor escapades.

When not scaling high peaks with his climbing buddies, he loved exploring the depths of the oceans as a certified scuba diver. In high school he and his pal applied their scuba diving skills to earn money by scrubbing the hulls of boats in the Edmonds Marina. Beyond the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest, he enjoyed diving amongst the colorful array of tropical fish & coral in the warmer waters of Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Hawaii and the Philippines. He inherited the travel bug from his globe-trotting dad, Richard. Their last trip together was to the South Pacific islands of Samoa, Palua and Tonga.

A fortuitous happenstance in his early 30’s was moving into a shared living situation with roommates in The Stroud House in the Green Lake neighborhood of North Seattle. There he met a circle of friends with whom he would remain close for the next three decades, one of whom would eventually become his wife – his beloved Fidelma, who had recently emigrated from the Emerald Isle to the Emerald City. They bonded as roommates for a year, then went their separate ways. But Cupid persevered, and after reuniting at the wedding of mutual friends, they became romantically involved & thereafter inseparable. They were married in July 2006 in a memorable outdoor ceremony at Wallace Falls, in the foothills of the Central Cascades. Together they built a life full of love and adventure, traveling together throughout the Northwest, Southwest, Ireland, Central America and beyond. They welcomed their darling daughter Sheenagh to their family in February 2010. By her second birthday she was adept at climbing up to the loft in their trusty Westfalia camper van. The apple of her dad’s eye, she and Randy forged a precious bond that gave him so much joy. He cherished his role as a father.

Randy was a life-long avid reader like his mom Jo, who remembers him reading fairy tales at age four. He always had a few books going at any time. He took great pleasure in being part of a regular book club with long-standing friends, always interested in the lively debates and perspectives of his fellow bibliophiles. His soft-spoken nature belied a deep intellect and sharp wit.

Regrettably, Randy’s health declined steadily over the past seven years. He fought valiantly and courageously, overcoming many setbacks, often defying the odds. With the expertise of the medical teams at the UW Medical center and his wife by his side as his strongest advocate, every effort was made to reverse the trends. However his hospital stays became longer and more frequent, weakening his compromised systems. For someone so rooted in the outdoors, his physical limitations were a huge disappointment, but he still relished getting out in the forest – most recently, camping at one of his favorite spots on Icicle Creek, Leavenworth with his family and close friends.

At the end of a heroic battle over the summer months, Randy succumbed to his overlapping medical conditions and died peacefully on the morning of August 20th, a few weeks shy of his 61st birthday. He spent his final days receiving comfort care with the compassionate palliative team at UW Northwest hospital, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

To know Randy was to know unconditional love. In addition to his heart-broken wife and daughter, he leaves behind a chorus of people who reciprocated that love; His mother Jo and step-dad Ron; his father Richard and step-mom Anita; His sister Tawni, brother Rick (Edie), step-brothers Greg (Tahra), Venu (Ana), Ken (Tanya); nieces Jessica, Emily & Jenna; nephews Henry, Nick, Ravi, Ryan and Siva; cousins Suzi, Penny and Mike; the extended McGinn clan in Ireland including his sisters and brothers-in-law and numerous nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews.

Randy was never more at home or at peace than when he was outdoors in nature. Hiking up a mountain, walking through a forest, or smelling the fragrance of the flowers in his mom’s back yard. So, it comes as little surprise that he wished for his remains to be gently transformed into nutrient-rich soil that will be used to plant and nurture young sapling trees to continue the circle of life.

His spirit is now unleashed into the natural environments that provided such sustenance and joy to him during his earthly journey. “Love flowers best in openness and freedom” ~ Edward Abbey, Desert Solitaire.

In his memory, his family suggests that contributions be made to the NW Kidney Center. www.nwkidney.org

Details of a celebration of Randy’s life will be shared at a future time, to properly gather and honor his life & legacy.