May 17, 1925 – January 31, 2009
A devoted son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, and friend, C. William Brasier, Bill, 83, passed away at his Vashon Island home surrounded by his beloved family on January 31, 2009, following a three year battle with prostate cancer. Bill was born on May 17, 1925, to Gladys and O.H. Brasier in Tacoma, WA. Bill lived the majority of his life in the North End of Tacoma, attending Sherman Elementary, Mason Junior High, and graduated from Stadium in 1943, where he was the state champion in the 50 meter freestyle both his junior and senior years. Following graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, where he served as an aerial gunner aboard the USS Franklin. He attended the University of Washington, where he was a member of Phi Gamma Delta (Fiji), and the University of Puget Sound simultaneously, graduating with degrees in Business Administration and Economics from both institutions in 3 years. He began his banking career as a teller at American Savings and Loan advancing through various departments, becoming its President at the age of 35, and CEO and Chairman of the Board by 40. When he assumed the Presidency, American Savings had three offices. By the time American Savings merged with Tacoma Savings and Loan, the bank grew to 20 branches. The name of the merged banks became American Savings Bank, and Bill was its CEO and Chairman of the Board until his retirement in 1985, and retained the title of Chairman until the bank was sold to Bank of America. Bill actively was involved in the designs of each of American Savings’ buildings, where his unique and creative talents were illustrated in both the interior and exterior designs. He was also actively involved in real estate throughout Pierce County.
Bill’s love of the water began as a small boy where he spent his summers sailing on American Lake, and this love continued to grow throughout his life, where he was an avid, competitive sailboat racer and water skier. He competed in over 40 Swiftsure Classics, and won his class division in Kiola I. His college nickname was “Sinbad.” His love of nautical design was illustrated by the beautiful yachts he owned over the years, several of which he sailed from the East Coast through the Panama Canal to Tacoma. He also purchased a yacht in Stockholm, and with his wife and three other couples, sailed her to Bremen, Germany, where she was shipped to Tacoma. He moved to his Vashon Island summer home in 1987, where he continued his love of sailing and water sports.
Over his life Bill helped many, some anonymously, with college tuitions, young couples with modest means make down payments on homes, friends in need of assistance in their respective businesses, and the list goes on. Bill was a gentleman in the true meaning of the word, always thoughtful of others, and family and friends were his personal focus. His deep sense of honesty, integrity, and loyalty formed the core of his code of ethics both personally and professionally, and to him a handshake was as good as a contract. He will be missed by many.
Bill was a life member of the Tacoma Yacht Club, Young Presidents of America (YPO), former member and past president of The Tacoma Club, former member of the Tacoma Country and Golf Club, and Tacoma Kiwanis. He served on various committees and Board of Governors for the Washington State Savings and Loan League, and also was a member of the Tacoma Symphony Board and served as its President for several years. He was also named as the Outstanding Man-of-the Year by the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce.
He is preceded in death by his parents, sisters Patricia Browne, and Virginia Delmar, and sons Ladd Courtenay and Shawn Long Brasier. He is survived by his wife of 34 years, Roberta, sons Kimberly, Christian, and Fielding, granddaughters Kaitlin and Courtenay Brasier, nieces Lissa Tommervik (Tom), Pamela Martello (Chuck) and nephew Tad Browne (Carol).
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the TYC Junior Sailing Program or the charity of your choice. Services will be at Immanuel Presbyterian Church, 901 North J Street, Tacoma, WA, on Sunday, February 8, 2009, at 3:00 pm. A reception will follow at the Tacoma Yacht Club.
(paid obituary)
