Rich Nafziger

Rich Nafziger, an economist, champion of workers and higher education for both the trades and the professions, and professor of public policy at Seattle University, died on February 11 at his home in Olympia with his family. He fought a more than four-year battle with glioblastoma. He was 72.

Rich Nafziger was born on January 6, 1953 in Portage, WI to Ezra Nafziger and Margaret Mary (Johns), Rich had a sister Cheryl (deceased); two half siblings, Larry Nafziger (deceased) and Janet Nafziger Howard; and two step-siblings, Jeff Pike and Paula Pike.

Rich is survived by his wife Kristin Swenddal, daughters Tess Christian (married to Cameron Christian), Mia Nafziger (married to Kyle Pepp), and grandchildren, Luna, Isolde, and Matilda.

Rich spent his early years in Battle Creek, Iowa, where his parents operated a small medical practice. Rich was proud of his parents and Doctor Naf’s commitment to helping others. His father grew up in a Mennonite community, one of 11 children. Rich attended high school in Sioux City, Iowa, then moved to Minneapolis to attend Macalester College. To pay for college, Rich worked in a meatpacking plant which had a lasting impact on his lifelong dedication to unions and workers’ rights.

After graduating with a degree in psychology and religious studies, Rich joined the Mennonite Central Committee. He was assigned to work for the Native American advocacy group, Americans for Indian Opportunity (AIO) in Washington D.C. This work inspired him to become an economist.

He moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico to continue his work for AIO. He eventually made his way to New York to attend graduate school at the New School for Social Research to study economics. In New York, Rich worked for Michael Tanzer and Associates, consulting with Native American tribes and developing nations on strategies to manage oil and other natural resources.

In 1983 he moved to Washington State, where he served as the legislative policy director for both the House and Senate Democratic staff, and later policy advisor to Governor Booth Gardner, who charged Rich with running the Timber Team to help communities affected by devastating layoffs in the timber industry.

In 1993 he and Kristin moved to DC for a few years where he served as the policy director for the Service Employees International Union.

When they returned to Olympia, he worked for Governor Gary Locke, the State Board for Community Technical Colleges, and was elected Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives.

He began teaching at Seattle University, where he taught policy and behavioral economics in the graduate public policy program. This was perhaps his favorite job. He loved helping his students launch careers that made an impact on their communities. Rich taught at SU until he was diagnosed with glioblastoma in 2020.

Rich met Kristin Swenddal in Olympia, and they married in June 1989. Rich was a devoted dad to daughters Tess and Mia, and later to three granddaughters. He was so proud of his daughters and loved doing anything that they found interesting. His younger granddaughters remember that he continued to play hide and seek with them towards the end of his illness when he himself could barely walk. He would listen attentively to two-year-old Matilda while they sat together on the porch.

Rich was a prolific reader and a music aficionado who enjoyed electronic, rock, jazz, opera, blues, country, and everything in between. He loved the desert and the beach, hiking, traveling, kayaking, weightlifting, cooking anything with green chiles, and spending time with Kristin, the kids, grandchildren, and his many friends.

Rich was strongly influenced by his father’s Mennonite heritage, and attended various churches over the years. He was always drawn to churches that focused on serving the poor.

Rich was compassionate, kind, and generous; he loved nothing more than helping others, whether they were family, his staff, or his students. A good day for Rich was making a difference in someone’s else’s life. He brought energy, enthusiasm, and positivity to everything he did, whether he was watching a movie, starting a new project at work, or driving his daughter to basketball practice.

Rich was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, friend, and co-worker. He will be missed but his good deeds will live on. Rest in peace my love.

When great trees fall, rocks on distant hills shudder…..they existed.

We can be. Be and be better. For they existed.

(Maya Angelou)

Funeral or Memorial Service Details

● First Baptist Church of Olympia

● February 22nd; 2 pm

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider a donation in Rich’s name to the Nafziger Scholarship Fund at Seattle University at https://www.seattleu.edu/giving/make-a-gift/ or by mail to Seattle University, 901 12th Avenue, Seattle, WA 98122, Attn: Advancement Services.