01/21/1940 - 07/07/2008

One of the true giants of the Seattle ad industry left us last month. John Backstrom Sr. passed away on July 7. He was diagnosed with a cancerous tumor on his left lung 13 years ago. He had it zapped and got regular check-ups every year for seven years - he beat it. All went well until his last one - on June 12 - when he got the news that lightning fast it was back and everywhere. Just over three weeks later, looking as alert and robust as ever, he slipped peacefully away at age 68.

Measured in terms of length, his life was sadly short. In terms of depth - how he treated his parents, what kind of adults his kids turned out to be, how much good he did for others - it was greatly, wonderfully off the charts.

Most know John as long-time partner with Bob Morgan at Washington Transit Advertising. And later at spinoffs Washington Sign Company and Washington Graphics. Those were his jobs. His gifts were bringing people together - he was everyone's own personal one-man networking service - and lending a helping hand.

He was always calling with new-business leads, always passing out your cards to possible customers, always saying nice things about you and connecting account people, creatives, media buyers, broadcast producers, web designers and just about everybody in the business with potential clients, partners or friends.

On a somewhat grander scale, if you suddenly found yourself out of work, out of money and with a family to feed, JB would say meet in my office tomorrow, we'll figure out a way to get you a job. He would make it happen.

Or if your family was splitting and you were messed up in the head, he'd say come on over to my place tonight. You're staying with me til you get back on your feet. In the morning he'd be flipping bacon and stirring potatoes with one hand, cracking two eggs with the other and never breaking the yolks, chuckling about being an ex Navy cook. He didn't do it for recognition, for strokes, for a pat on the back. It was all pretty much under the radar. He never asked for or would accept anything in return. Instead he often masked his huge heart with an air of brusque bravado, diverting attention away from the deed. He'd be embarrassed to know he was seen as a good, kind, honest man. He knew how to have fun too. Usually in a big way. Restaurants, the finest. Cars, the fastest. Casinos, the biggest. Women, the classiest. Golf, the earliest (before sunup, first off the tee). Elk hunting, the highest, steepest terrain in the state. Adventure, mining for gold three weeks a year at Cripple River Camp outside of Nome, Alaska. And, always, hanging' with the family. Son John Jr. (wife Kathy), who runs Skyline Pacific Northwest, the big trade show booth, graphics and service company for western Washington and Alaska. Son Jeff (wife Naticia), who does the same for Skyline Inland Northwest covering eastern Washington and northern Idaho. Daughter Jenny and husband Jon Deeny, who operate Deeny Construction in Seattle. And six very special grandkids.Friends called him John, JB, Backstrap or just Strap. He called himself a salesman. That he was. He was also a teacher, coach, counselor, mentor, matchmaker, philanthropist, loving father/grampa, and absolutely the best friend you could ever have.