7/15/1943 – 3/19/2025

Rick Paquette was born in Duluth, Minnesota, to Ruth Karoline Erickson and Ray Cardin Paquette on July 15, 1943. He passed away suddenly on March 19, 2025, after waking up with a smile. Rick had suffered from Alzheimer’s since 2020.

Rick’s dad was a carpenter and home builder and for Rick’s early years, the family had several addresses in the Duluth, Saginaw area of Minnesota. He also grew up under the Swedish influence of his mother who loved to bake traditional Swedish goodies, which he loved throughout his life.

After graduating from Denfeld High School in 1961, Rick left the frigid winters of Duluth behind to attend the University of Hawaii in Honolulu. When he wasn’t engrossed in his studies he was absorbing the outdoors, hiking, climbing, and spending part of a summer harvesting pineapples.

Two years later he returned to the University of Minnesota to complete an undergraduate degree in Microbiology. There he met Marilyn “Marty” Brinkman, and the two were married in December of 1966. They celebrated the arrival of their daughter Corinne the following year.

Rick moved to the Northwest in 1969 to pursue a masters in Microbiology. This move brought other changes, including a divorce from Marty and pausing his studies to take a job at the Office of Vital Statistics in Olympia. It was there he met Carole Lynn Ives. They were married in November 1973.

In 1974, Rick resumed studies at the University of Washington’s Center for Quantitative Science, where he began a doctorate in Fisheries, while student teaching on the side. When Rick met a neighbor who was remodeling houses, he decided to make a career change and spent the following years remodeling and building houses in Seattle’s Rainier district and West Seattle.

When a friend invited him to visit Vashon, Rick was sold on the idea of living on a quiet, forested island. He purchased land, and designed and built his family home where he and Carole Lynn raised their son Peter and daughter Maryka. During this time, he jumped back into his career in biostatistics, first with Weyerhaeuser and then with a small private firm on the island, where he developed models for the forest and fisheries industries. Upon retiring, he joined Carole Lynn in managing her homegrown nursery business.

His love of woodwork was often re-channeled into the family home, which echoed his two favorite sayings: “It’s temporary” and “I’ll do it myself.” Meanwhile, his love of the outdoors permeated his life. To the extent he could pull the family along for a hike, beach walk, camping, or skiing trip, he did. He was also a voracious reader and intellectual, consuming everything from philosophy to science fiction, from history to astronomy.

To sum up Rick’s life is to say he was curious about everything: biological and computer sciences; spirituality; house building and bowl turning; singing; crocheting; highland bagpiping; exploring the outdoors; and all ranges of intellectual pursuits. Most of all, he was a family man who loved his three children dearly and cried every time their visit was over.

Rick was preceded in death by his parents Ray and Ruth Paquette, and niece Rene Paquette. Rick is survived by his wife of 51 years, Carole Lynn Ives, children: Corinne Whittall (David), Peter Paquette, Maryka Paquette (Anthony von Arx); 4 grandchildren: Zoe Whittall, James Whittall, Isabelle Whittall, and Noa Ives von Arx; and one brother Robert Paquette (Luanne), niece Sheryl Paquette Kelts (Troy), and second cousins, Adam, Audrey, and Owen Kelts. He is also survived by a clan of Peterson cousins with whom he grew up: Mary Morahan (Dan), Christine Sumner (Preston), Steve Peterson (Stevie), Kay Grant (Brian), Larry Peterson (Beate), and Heidi Peterson, and his numerous second cousins.

He will be missed for his keen mind, ready smile, his caring heart, devotion to family and uproarious laugh.

In lieu of flowers, the family invites support to the Alzheimer’s Association (alz.org/alzwa). A memorial service will be held at St. John Vianney Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m. on July 12. All who were part of his many lives are welcome to attend.