Community Corner

Shoreline-LFP Patch's Greatest Person for February: Bill Bear

Questions and answers with Briarcrest resident Bill Bear, volunteer extraordinaire

Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Patch editor Tony Dondero talked to volunteer extraordinaire Bill Bear for the Patch’s Greatest Person feature for February. Bear, an early Baby Boomer, is enjoying retirement being active in causes he believes in.

How long have you lived in Shoreline?

15 years.

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How old are you?

66.

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What neighborhood do you live in?

Briarcrest

Why did you decide to live there?

The cost of housing, versus the taxes plus access to downtown Seattle.

Tell us about your family.

Wife Holly of 46 years; son Cory 46, son Ryan 35.

When volunteering have you done in Shoreline?

I got involved my neighborhood association in Briarcrest when it was relatively new. I got interested in what my neighbors were doing went to block party and it went from there.

I volunteer for Shoreline Community Care. It helps people with rent and utilities. I work with Greater Seattle Care, a faith community for all of Seattle, that deals specifically with support for Tent City 3. I also help with Poppy’s Café, which provides free meals at every Wednesday night.

Project Sustainable Shoreline is basically to help make our city more sustainable—backyard habitat, other issues with sustainability.

I just joined Shoreline Solar Project, which is closely aligned with sustainability.

I also work with a ministerial fellowship that includes Shoreline churches and pastors. We’re a group of people from different churches in Shoreline area trying to work together.

I work with the Back to School project an August event with the Shoreline School District, which works with the city and agencies to make sure students have school supplies.

I work with Celebrate Recovery, a 12-step program based on the Bible that addresses any hurts, habits or hangups or other kind of issues

You’ve also been involved in the city politics as well.

 I used to be more involved in political scene, now partly involved. I helped with Council campaigns, the citizen advisory committee for long range financial planning. I also served Council of Neighborhoods.

You’re retired now, what kind of work did you do?

Most of my career was in biotech. The last 10 years I was in computer science and help desk support. I was a contractor for Amgen and Microsoft. I worked at a company my son Cory started, Bocada, which  made backup report software.

What do you like best about Shoreline?

The trees and the people. It’s a generally quite a nice neighborhood (Briarcrest), you get to know people. I like the woods and walking the parks and such. It’s easy access to Seattle and most places, the lakes and the mountains. I have a small boat and go out on Lake Washington. I like being out in the environment.


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