Fall 2003

Message from the President

As many of you already know, I have been with the Seattle Lighthouse for the Blind for well over thirty years. Being associated with this fantastic organization for more than three decades, I have seen some almost unbelievable advances in the training, technology, support services and types of employment opportunities we offer blind and Deaf-Blind people in our community.

During these years, I have had the privilege of getting to know some truly remarkable individuals. I am sad to report that we at the Seattle Lighthouse are mourning the loss of two of these incredible people: Rear Admiral Wally Dowd Jr., and Mr. Bill Dimick.

Admiral Dowd served as our board chair for over twenty years.  He provided us with unwavering leadership and inspiration. He understood the vital role a board of trustees plays in setting strategic direction for an organization. An important legacy that Wally left behind was the greatly expanded services for multi-disabled blind people that were developed while he was at the helm of our board.

Admiral Dowd often related how his first encounter with the impact of blindness came after he was involved in rescuing crew members from the burning wreckage of a plane that had crashed on the deck of an aircraft carrier. Some of these airmen lost their sight in the accident. Wally never forgot this tragic incident, and it inspired him to dedicate himself to creating opportunities for blind people to live independent, self-sufficient lives.

Wally graduated from Bremerton high school in 1938, and was commissioned as an ensign in the U.S. Navy Supply Corps in 1942. During his thirty-five years in the Navy, Wally served in World War II, the Korean War and also in Vietnam. He later became the Navy’s top supply officer, holding the titles of Commander Naval Supply Systems Command, and Chief of Supply Corps. He retired from the Navy in 1977 with two Distinguished Service Medals and the Legion of Merit with Gold Star, among many other accolades for his wartime service. After retiring Wally served as CEO for two successful Northwest companies, served on our Lighthouse board of trustees and was named a director of National Industries for the Blind. He generously gave the Lighthouse his wisdom, knowledge and experience. His contributions have been immeasurable.  

An equally sad loss was the passing away of Bill Dimick, a long-time Lighthouse employee and pillar of the local Deaf-Blind community. Bill was named Seattle Lighthouse Employee of the Year in 1988, at the age of sixty-seven! As he was quoted in the newspaper at that time, “I’m an old man. But I’m strong and I love to work.”

Bill was an amazing guy with great skills and a great personality. He could independently operate any piece of equipment here at the Lighthouse.

Bill was born with Usher’s syndrome, which means profound deafness and gradual vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa. Bill lost his usable vision in his thirties, but kept right on with his life, learning how to use American Sign Language tactually. After retiring, Bill remained part of the Lighthouse family: attending our bi-weekly Deaf-Blind community classes at Seattle Central Community College and the annual Deaf-Blind retreat.

All of our Deaf-Blind program staff remember Bill, who was an avid Mariners baseball fan, at the Deaf-Blind retreat during the pennant race of 1995.

Bill was determined not to miss a single pitch, so he found one of the volunteer sign language interpreters who knew a little bit about baseball. Not every interpreter knows how to sign “can of corn” or “Texas leaguer.”

Bill sat for hours in a parked car, while his interpreter listened to Dave Niehaus’ play-by-play and converted it into American Sign Language. He truly lived his life the way he wanted to live it, and stood as an inspiration for us all. 

I hope these words have given you some idea of how much these two great gentlemen meant to us here at the Lighthouse.

They will both be sorely missed.

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