Grief is love.

And we feel the depths of both grief and love as we mourn the death of our husband and father, Art Sprenkle.

On paper - Art was raised in rural Pennsylvania and a basketball scholarship took him to Columbia University. He continued his studies at Columbia Medical School while competing for the Old Blue Rugby team. He spent summers camping, hiking and fishing leading to his discovery of the Pacific Northwest and his decision to complete his fellowship in Seattle. As an allergist, he practiced in Seattle and Everett. He served three terms as a state legislator in Olympia sponsoring the legislation creating the WA Health Care Authority and the Waste Not Washington Act, establishing a national model for waste management and recycling. He continued his work in health care as a medical director and medical consultant until very recently.

But his life not on paper was the Art we all loved.

He was smart and kind. He never lost his curiosity or his eagerness to learn. He ate with gusto, danced with enthusiasm and sang with Moby and Gordon Lightfoot. He had strong opinions and never shied from a debate. He was an animal lover, a tomato whisperer, and the guy who most always took the path less traveled.

Art lived every single day. He had passion. And every task he undertook demonstrated this mighty appetite for life.

Art believed a single person could make a difference. He believed in the world, and he just wanted to make it a little bit better.

And he did.

His memories live on in the hearts of his wife, Marianne Lile, his kids, Preston Sprenkle and Linda Fan, Kirsten and Jason Gudmundson and Collin Sprenkle and his four grandsons, Niklas, Bobby, Wyatt and Gabriel. His four siblings and his many nieces and nephews will carry on the tradition of bad Sprenkle jokes and comparing tomato crops.

His family has never lived in a world without Art and for us, it feels less full. We will miss his wit, his determination, his gentleness and his hugs.

Thank you to all who have supported us over the last two years.

And to the entire team at Fred Hutch - the valets who opened my door, the nurses who listened to all our stories, the medical assistants, the front desk folks, and the doctors who matched Art's willingness to try - a heartfelt thank you.