In Memoriam | James A. Seeley, 1935 – 2025

||| FROM ALEX MACLEOD |||

Dr. James A. Seeley

On July 4th, we lost our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Dr. James A. Seeley. Jim passed away peacefully at his home in Medina, three months shy of his 90th birthday after recently being diagnosed with lung cancer.

Jim was born in Fort Peck, Montana to Albert and Beatrice Seeley. The family moved to Idaho Falls, Idaho where Jim graduated from Idaho Falls High School in 1958. Due to his strong leadership skills, wit, and charm, Jim was elected the first high school president of the school. He then went on to attend the University of Idaho where he graduated with an engineering degree in three years. While there, he joined the fraternity of Phi Gamma Delta, which started a long legacy of “Fijis” in the family. After college, Jim attended medical school at George Washington University in Washington DC. Jim’s passion for sports, the outdoors, and adventure led him into the field of orthopedic medicine. He completed his orthopedic internship in Salt Lake City, then moved to Oklahoma City where he completed his residency under Dr. Don O’Donoghue, who was internationally renowned as the “father of sports medicine.” While attending church service, he met the love of his life, Marsha Lu Hoenig, and the two were married in 1962.

Jim’s desire to return to the Northwest led him to accept a position with Dr. Ray Adams in Bellevue, Washington. Jim and Marsha settled in Medina in 1965, and it was here that they raised their family. Jim began working at Overlake Hospital and became the first full time orthopedic surgeon on the Eastside. Back in those days, orthopedic surgeons did not specialize, and he ended up treating any orthopedic injury that came into the emergency room. Jim retired from orthopedics in 1995. His professional legacy is defined by a multitude of grateful patients.

Jim and Marsha had three children – Laine, David, and Elizabeth. Jim was a very involved father and was an active coach and fan of his children. He attended countless events over the years including sports games, concerts, plays, and recitals, even becoming the team doctor for numerous sports teams at Bellevue High School. Jim was also a devoted, beloved grandfather and mentor to his seven grandchildren who will all miss him immensely.

Jim was a member of Overlake Golf & Country Club for over 55 years and an active member of The Boulders Golf Club in Scottsdale for over 30 years. He was also a member of the Swinomish Duck Club for over 50 years. Jim had an incredible life and truly lived the American Dream with no regrets. He had a passion for golfing, fishing, hunting, hiking, skiing, scuba diving, flying, and playing the piano. In college he spent two summers as a smoke jumper in Idaho and had over 20 jumps to his credit. He also spent four years serving his country in the National Guard rising to the rank of Major. Jim loved to travel and was proud to say he made it to every continent in the world during his lifetime. He shared his love for travel and his enthusiasm for the outdoors by organizing many family trips to various countries around the world.

Jim was a passionate philanthropist. He created a long legacy of charitable work and participated in Orthopedics Overseas, an organization helping patients in Africa, India, and China. In 1995, Jim and Marsha created the Jim and Marsha Seeley College of Science Scholarship Endowment at the University of Idaho. They were also among the first supporters of the Orcas Island Music Festival. In 2004, Jim and Marsha started working with the College of the Environment at the University of Washington to support many cutting edge scientific projects on a small, South Pacific atoll called Tetiaroa. After years of annual giving, they were honored by the University of Washington as Laureates in 2018. Jim’s passion for supporting charitable and environmental causes lives on through his children and grandchildren.

In 1978, Jim and Marsha bought a piece of property on Orcas Island and eventually built a home there. Orcas was, without a doubt, Jim’s favorite place in the world, and it was here that countless family memories were created. While on Orcas, Jim loved to fish, crab, shrimp, boat, hike, play (and win) games of cribbage, take in the view of Spring Passage, and enjoy great times with family and friends.

Jim is survived by Marsha, his loving wife of 63 years; daughter Laine Seeley (Bryan Roberts), son David Seeley (Joylyn), and daughter Elizabeth Kain (Pete). He is also survived by his grandchildren, Matt, Henry, Anne, Kathryn, Blake, Joe, and Lucy. He was preceded in death by his sister, Phyllis.

The family would like to thank the medical providers at Overlake Hospital and Evergreen Hospice who provided such amazing and compassionate care over the last several weeks of Jim’s life.

A private family memorial will be held. Donations in memory of Dr. Seeley may be made to the University of Washington Seeley Fund for Ocean Science.