In Memoriam: Bill Stalzer

Bill Stalzer, Stalzer, and Associates passed away after a year and a half battle with ALS on April 28, 2018.  Bill came to Seattle in the mid-1970s after graduating from Brown University, Harvard Graduate School, and 4 years in the Navy.  Bill originally worked for the City of Seattle as the Director of Downtown Development.  Shortly after leaving the City, Bill formed Stalzer and Associates, and from that time forward was instrumental in the planning and development of multiple residential and commercial projects in the Pacific Northwest.  Bill did both public and private sector workers.  Examples of recent public-sector projects include planning, design and policy regulations for the City of Covington and Walla Walla County.  Bill’s private-sector work focused mainly on entitlement management and design development for large, high impact projects such as Issaquah Highlands, Southport, Juanita Village, and several mid-rise mixed-use projects in downtown Mercer Island.

Bill loved his work and all the wonderful friends and colleagues he met over the years.  He was very proud of the contribution he made to the quality of development in the Seattle and King County area, as well as Eastern Washington, and Bill enjoyed seeing his projects prosper as an integral part of communities after construction.  Bill was masterful in bridging the gap between technical planner, the public, and citizen concerns, often in difficult political environments.  His contributions to the quality of life in cities and the planning realm will be felt and live on for decades in every community where he did work. 

Bill was a loving family man married for 38 years to Linda Stalzer, father to Eric, and stepfather to Gretchen and Joel.  He battled ALS with courage and humor and was surrounded by love as he faced each challenge.

Bill’s life will be celebrated on June 6, 2018, at the Sanctuary at Admiral from 4-7 pm.  Donations to the ALS Foundation in Bill’s name are welcome and appreciated by his family.

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