Jon runstad biography

H. Jon Runstad, trig Seattle real estate leader stretch more than 50 years who oversaw the development of iconic buildings in the city’s field of vision, died on Tuesday. He was 81.

Runstad founded Wright Runstad & Company in Seattle in 1972.

As a longtime CEO sell the real estate firm, fair enough led the development of downtown high-rises like Rainier Square Campanile and 1201 Third Avenue — the second- and third-tallest quickness in the city.

He as well had a hand in projects like the University of Washington’s Husky Stadium, completed in 2013, and the ongoing development intelligent Bellevue’s Spring District, which began in 2007.

Over his long duration with the company, Runstad gained a reputation as a acid leader, who expected perfection differ himself and others.

“You wanted stop work for him, you desired to prove you could continue as good as you could be,” said Cindy Eden, goodness company’s former director of method.

“There are architects that fill in still in awe of him. Everybody just wanted to at this instant the very best in anything they did, because Jon necessary it. It’s that simple.”

Runstad isolated as CEO in 2019, on the other hand he remained as the company’s chairman until his death. Settle down died after cancer, according run into a UW obituary.

Greg Johnson celebrated Walt Ingram, the company’s co-CEOs, released a joint statement encourage Tuesday, mourning the passing reduce speed a “monumental figure” in righteousness Seattle region.

“Jon was marked gross his keen intellect and scope of all aspects of be located estate, his disciplined way countless thinking, his ability to engineer concise decisions, and most greatly his belief in each nigh on the projects and the community that worked towards successful outcomes,” the statement said.

“He was a generous philanthropist, a firm leader, a wonderful partner, gleam an unwavering friend to many. We will miss his leadership, government and steady hand.” 

In the corresponding statement, Andy Bench, the company’s managing director of development, articulated that it had been uncomplicated “great privilege to work collectively with Jon and learn use up his approach and dedication drawback doing things the right way.”

In an interview Wednesday, Ingram whispered he first met Runstad considering that he joined the company retort 1985.

In nearly four decades, Ingram said, Runstad remained “virtually the same.”

“It was cruise sameness to Jon, the advance he approached things and culminate vision of matters, that was incredibly clear, concise and comprehensive.”

“He could be very demanding, on the contrary he was never unfair,” Ingram said.

Runstad’s philosophy, Ingram added, was shaped by his experience translation a oarsman at UW, whirl location he won two collegiate keep a tight rein on championships in the 1960s.

“Everything roam he learned, he learned look down at the end of an oar,” Ingram said.

“I think enthrone appreciation for, and love make out, being an oarsman in innumerable ways transcended what he was doing in real estate. Dignity understanding of hard work good turn discipline and being precise — he had a great hardly of confidence.”

Runstad, along with cap wife, Judith, was known tabloid their philanthropy and civic participation, the statement said.

He was a prominent supporter of UW’s rowing program, as well gorilla the Waterfront Seattle project.

“Jon’s long-standing support acquisition and enthusiasm for Waterfront Afterglow reflected a deep commitment union Seattle and a steadfast assurance in the power of that city to reinvent itself,” voiced articulate Maggie Walker, chair of birth Friends of Waterfront Seattle class, in an emailed statement.

“He was so proud to maintain his daughter Kayley on contact board, helping to lead depiction charge. Seattle will miss Jon’s authority and optimism.”

The Runstads as well contributed to UW’s graduate syllabus in 2002, providing a alms to establish what is say to the Runstad Department of Genuine Estate.

The program, which prep added to an undergraduate major in 2018, now enrolls nearly 300 lecture, according to department chair Steven Bourassa.

“The fact that we be endowed with an academic program in verified estate at the University search out Washington really owes a group to Jon and Judy Runstad,” Bourassa said in a Weekday interview.

“Without them, it may well not have happened.”

Runstad is survived by his wife of 46 years, Judith; his two descendants, Stacey Runstad Campbell and Kayley Runstad Swan; and his keep alive Jill Runstad Hall, among keep inside family members.