Stan Barer Recognized By The Times

At the end of every year, The Seattle Times does a review of deaths of celebrities, local leaders, and other newsmakers during that year. 

I was pleasantly surprised and honored to see that my cousin Stan Barer made the list.

Stan is noted for his contributions in writing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, when he worked on the staff of Senator Warren Magnuson and also for his contributions to helping reopen trade between the US and China.

Stan passed away on December 13th after a long battle with cancer.

Stan Barer Dies

 We lost Stan Monday night.  He was 82.   He had been fighting cancer for well over a decade, seemingly winning every battle.  The last couple years were very tough as he lost his wife, Alta to cancer in 2019 and son, Aaron in 2020.

Stan was my cousin, my grandfather and his father were brothers.  Stan was brother to Burl and Jan.  We all grew up in Walla Walla.  Stan attended Green Park School and graduated from Walla Walla High School (Wa-Hi).

Stan left Walla Walla to go to the University of Washington.  After finishing law school, he joined the staff of Senator Warren Magnuson.  After playing a big part in writing the Civil Rights Act of 1964, he would go on to become the senator's administrative assistant.  

Over lunch many years ago, Stan told me how he felt there was underlying discrimination growing up as he felt that many clubs had not picked him for membership because of his Jewish faith.  That apparently galvanized his commitment to civil rights. 

Stan became a Washington insider.  He was in the "kitchen cabinet" of several presidents.  He played a part in an historic trade deal with China.  He was written up in the Walla Walla Union-Bulletin as an "expert on export".

Stan would go on to practice law in Seattle for several years in a huge firm known as Garvey, Shubert, And Barer.  He would also became part of the ownership group of Saltchuk Resources, which ran several local shipping companies including Totem Ocean Trailer Express and Foss 

With his wife, Alta, Stan became an active donor in the arts community, as well as many charity causes.  His donation to the University Of Washington allowed more students from around the world to attend. 

Stan also served on the University Of Washington Board Of Regents.  

Just last September, it was announced that Stan had won the Gates Volunteer Service Award.  

It seems silly, but one of my favorite memories of Stan was when we were going out for dinner with his mom, my Aunt Dorothy.  Stan and Alta had come to meet my then fiance, now my wife.  Stan and I were sitting on the couch dipping crackers into chopped liver at my aunt's apartment. On a more serious note, he was a rock of comfort in the deaths of both of my parents.  

A private service will be held this week with Stan's immediate family.  A celebration of life for Stan's large circle of family and friends will be announced at a later date

Stan will really be missed.

Burl Interviews Brother Stan

Burl Barer interviewed his brother, Stan on the subject of US trade with China on this edition of True Crime Uncensored.  Click Here.

Meeting Washington Icon

At Alta Barer's memorial, there was a man that I could not wait to meet.  Dan Evans was governor of Washington from 1964 to 1976, basically, from when I was in 1st grade almost through my freshman year at WSU.  

He is a Republican and I'm a Democrat. I always wanted to see him defeated.  After 3 terms, he declined to run for a 4th term.

He would later serve a US Senator, replacing the iconic Scoop Jackson after his sudden passing.

Time passes and I now consider Evans one of our state's greatest public servants.  By meeting him, I later realize that I have met or seen in person, every person who has served as Washington governor during my 62 year lifetime.   I thought for a while that I had met every US Senator from Washington that served during my life, but later remembered that I had not met the late Brock Adams, who served one term.  Adams, ironically, was once law partners with my cousin, Stan Barer.

Alta Barer Honored At Fairmont

Former KING 5 TV anchor  and Stan Barer family friend Jean Enersen, pictured above, was emcee at a beautiful tribute to my late cousin, Alta Barer.  Alta, who was married to my cousin Stan, passed away last month after a long, but quiet, battle with cancer.
The service began with an incredible singing performance by the Puget Sound Company. Speakers included, University Of Washington President Ana Marie Cauce, Washington Senator Maria Cantwell, Former Governor and later US Ambassador to China, Gary Locke, and Changdong Xu, chairman of the WRSEA.
Both my brothers and their wives were among the guests.  Also attending were my cousin Lee Goldberg and his sister, Karen Dinino, from Los Angeles.
The Tribute took place at the Fairmont in Downtown Seattle.

Cousin Alta Will Be Missed

Alta Barer died on Wednesday, May 8th. She married  my cousin Stan  in the early 70s.  She was a flight attendant for Northwest Airlines for more than 20 years.

Stan and Alta's contributions to the Seattle area are indeed legend.  If attending a music event or a play, it's no surprise to see Stan and Alta Barer on the list of donors.   In 1996, Stan and Alta put on a political fund raising event featuring Hilary Clinton. In 2008, they made a contribution to the University Of Washington Law School to help make it possible for students in under developed countries to attend that institution.

Alta's contributions to the community are well stated in this beautiful article by Patti Payne in the Puget Sound Business Journal, click here, but this, above all, is a deeply personal loss.  Alta and Stan were often present at family gatherings.  As a teenager, I was struck by her beauty and poise.

In this picture, Stan and Alta,  and grandson Aaron, Jr. pose with President Obama.  A memorial service for Alta J. Barer  will be announced at a later date.  Contributions may be made to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Resource Center.

Stan Barer Awarded In Beijing

Cousin Stan Barer was in Beijing, China at the beginning of this month to receive the Award of Achievement from the Western Returned Scholars Association Entrepreneur Alliance for his contribution to US-China relations in the past 40 years.In 1979, Stan successfully negotiated the resumption of shipping services between the US and China.
The Western Returned Scholars Association consists of Chinese scholars and researchers who have studied abroad.   It is affiliated with the Chinese government.
We wish to Congratulate Stan on this amazing honor.

Stan Barer Feature Found

On February 22nd, 1987, The Walla Walla Union-Bulletin ran a feature on natives of the town that succeeded on the regional and national level.  My cousin Stan Barer was featured in this article which was in a Sunday paper supplement.   Amongst those featured were Charles Luce, who would run Con-Ed, Ralph Coordiner, who would become president of General Electric, and William O. Douglas, who sat on the Supreme Court.  Also Adam West, perhaps Walla Walla's most famous native.  All in all, not bad company.

Stan Barer On Front Page Of Seattle Times

Cousin Stan Barer (left with side to camera), who is on the University Of Washington Board Of Regents, is shown here greeting interim UW President Phyllis Wise.

Happy Birthday Cuz

Burl Barer wishes his brother Stan a happy 70th here

Politics Is In Our Blood

From Shelby Skates wonderful biography on Seattle's legendary Senator Warren G Magnuson, here is my cousin Stan with the senator reviewing papers.

UW Law School To Receive A Generous Contribution

The Puget Sound Business Journal Reports that the University Of Washington Law School has received a generous pledge from Stan and Alta Barer. The money will be used to establish the Barer Institute Of Law And Global Human Services.
University Of Washington President Mark Emmert said
"This gift ensures that the UW will continue to produce leaders in the international human rights arena and provide a comprehensive, interdisciplinary, and, most importantly, global legal education. We're very grateful to Stan and Alta for their vision and generosity."
Stan is the chairman of the University Of Washington Board Of Regents. A Walla Walla High School graduate, he is, I believe, the 4th of 7 members of the Barer family to attend the University Of Washington.

Congratulations Stan

Stan Barer was honored this week by The American Jewish Committee with their Human Relations Award. A formal dinner was held this week at the Fairmont Olympic in Downtown Seattle to present the award.

My Three Cousins

My Cousin Jan has been an inspiration in doing this blog. Here she is with brothers Stan,
and Burl in this rare photograph off her blog.

Stanley Barer: Magnuson Bumble Bee

Warren Magnuson was an integral part of Washington history serving in the United States Senate from 1945 until he was defeated in the Reagan Landslide of 1980. In a book written about Magnuson, Author Shelby Skates paid tribute to my Cousin Stan Barer , one of Maguson's "Bumble Bees" (a name, said to be coined by Maguson opponent John Erlichman referring to the Senator's young staff). Stan later would serve as Senator Magnuson's administrative assistant.

June 1963: the commencement of a career for Stan Barer, just graduated from the University of Washington Law School and bound for the staff of Senator Warren Magnuson; the start of a hot summer of racial strife for the nation. Barer the first of Professor Ralph Johnson's star pupils to be propelled from the law school to Maggie's employ--was on the way to "the other Washington...Barer the high spirited son of a Russian immigrant turned Walla Walla businessman, had no inkling that his destiny and the black revolution would quickly become intertwined.

The book which was published in 1997, goes on to illustrate Stan's role in writing legislation which would help change the nation's course in the battle for civil rights.