Entrepreneur. Philanthropist. Lawyer. Father. This August, UW Medicine, the University of Washington (UW) and the Seattle community lost one of our most influential and well-regarded advocates: Jeffrey H. Brotman.
Although Mr. Brotman graduated from the UW with a law degree in 1967 and even practiced tax law for a few years, he is best known in business circles for co-founding Costco Wholesale in 1983 with Jim Sinegal. Costco’s mantra — “do the right thing” — was an ethic that Mr. Brotman clearly practiced at all times.
At a memorial service in early August, UW President Ana Mari Cauce and others remembered Mr. Brotman’s love of life, his sense of humor and the generosity with which he gave of his time and resources. He spent countless hours in volunteer leadership roles at UW Medicine and the University of Washington, serving on the UW Medicine Board, the UW Medicine Strategic Initiatives Committee, the UW Board of Regents, and, with his wife, Susan, as a general chair for the UW’s Be Boundless fundraising campaign.
Together, the Brotmans were a force for good at the University, giving generously to areas that ranged from art to athletics, and from law to medicine. In fact, Mr. and Mrs. Brotman’s contributions were foundational to the creation of UW Medicine’s South Lake Union campus and the renovation of the building that bears their name.
Mr. Brotman is survived by his wife, Susan, and their children and grandchildren.