Stephen Alan Watkins

Stephen Alan Watkins, born November 13, 1951 in Seattle, died at his home in Lynnwood on February 23, 2010. Steve dedicated his life to education, teaching for more than 30 years in the Mukilteo School District. He taught a variety of subjects, but his true passion was the teaching of foreign languages, especially Russian. A 1969 graduate of Mountlake Terrace High School, Steve developed his life-long love for languages and language learning while studying Russian at Mountlake Terrace. Steve was an honors student in high school and continued to excel in college, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of Washington in 1973 with majors in both history and Russian. In Mukilteo, he taught at Olympic View Junior High School, Mariner High School and Kamiak High School, establishing instructional programs in foreign cultures and Russian language study which were recognized by the state and professional education associations for innovation and excellence in education. He was the recipient of a 1989 Washington Award for Excellence in Education Award, bestowed on educators for outstanding accomplishment in leadership and commitment to education. Steves Russian language program at Mariner High School was one of the first in the nation selected to participate in the U.S.-U.S.S.R. High School Academic Partnership Program, an exchange program seeking to foster cultural awareness and language study among high school students in the U.S and the then Soviet Union. Over the years, Steve continued to lead other student delegations from Mariner and Kamiak High Schools to Russia and to host students groups from Russia on exchange activities here. Steve also served as Russian Language interpreter for a variety of American business and legal delegations which traveled to Russia in the 1980s and 1990s as part of the People to People Citizen Ambassador Programs, garnering immense respect from those with whom he dealt for his fluency in Russian and his cultural sensitivity. Steve was fond of, and much of his life gave truth to, an old Arabic proverb which states that He who speaks more than one language lives more than one life. He fervently believed that the study of language and travel to foreign lands go hand-in-hand, two endeavors he pursued with boundless enthusiasm throughout his life. Friendly, gregarious and fun-loving, Steve easily met people and enjoyed company. He was intelligent, sensitive, quick-witted and had a keen sense of humor. Steve enjoyed a good time and derived great pleasure from seeing others have as much fun as he did. Always physically active, he skied with vigor and thoroughly enjoyed hiking, biking, swimming and keeping himself fit. He was an accomplished dancer, who found no greater pleasure than performing or teaching someone to dance. Steven was preceded in death by his beloved parents, John Boyce and Shirley Watkins, and his younger brother Terry Watkins. He is survived by his sister Tracie Hunt and her husband Donal, and his brother Boyce and his wife Ritsu and their son Nicholas Watkins. He will be dearly missed by his many friends and family. The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be given to: The American Diabetes Association 1701 North Beauregard Street Alexandria, VA 22311 Tel: 1-800-DIABETES www.diabetes.org