WA - Lish Whitson of Seattle died the morning of February 11, 2026 from complications of leukemia. He was born in Washington D.C. in 1942 and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University, he applied for and was accepted by the Peace Corps to go to Afghanistan.

It was in training for the Peace Corps at the University of Texas, Austin that he met Barbara Sullivan. They married after knowing each other for a month, and served in Mazar-i-Sharif Afghanistan for two years. In Afghanistan Lish taught English and started a pottery cooperative. After the Peace Corps, they settled in Seattle, where they lived together for the next 55 years.

He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1973. His legal practice lasted for more than 50 years, including time at the Public Defenders Association, Helsell Fetterman, and his own law firm. He finished his career as an arbitrator and mediator at JAMS. Of particular importance to him was building an ethical legal community in Washington State.

Lish particularly enjoyed travelling with Barbara and their children. He was on a four and a half month cruise that took him from Antarctica to Greenland, when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Lish is survived by his children Lish Richard (Joel) and Kimberly; his sister Clytie (Bob) Taylor; many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and nieces, friends and colleagues.

A celebration of life will be held in April. Remembrances should be sent to the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.