Gov. Jay Inslee's father dies at 88

OLYMPIA -- The father of Gov. Jay Inslee, Frank E. Inslee, died late Monday night in Anacortes after an illness. He was 88.

Frank Inslee had been transported from his home on Lopez Island to an Anacortes hospital earlier Monday, the governor's office said. Frank died shortly before the governor and his wife, Trudi, arrived to join family members at the hospital.

Frank had taught biology and served as assistant basketball coach at Seattle's Garfield High School. In 1957, when Chief Sealth High School opened, Frank became the school's head coach for basketball and track. He later served as athletic director for Seattle Public Schools.

He was also a World War II Navy veteran.

“My brothers and I loved our father for his boundless dedication to our mother, Adele, his love of salt water and big mountains, and every boating and knot-tying lesson he ever taught us,” the governor said.

“We're proud of what he did as a teacher and coach, too. He was thrilled by taking unranked high school basketball teams into the state tournament. But he was truly proud of having helped his students build confidence and ambition. Today, wherever we go, my brothers and I get to meet those now 60-year-olds who tell us tales of how our dad inspired them.”

The governor’s mother passed away in 2007. Adele and Frank had three sons, Jay, Frank, Jr., and Todd. When he died, Frank Sr. had seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren and had been living on Lopez Island for about seven years.