~~~~ William Ruddick (1937-2023) ~~~~
Bill Ruddick was a founding BBC regular and Steering Committee member from its inception in January 2009, as well as Thinkologist and Leader of the BBC Think Club. With Ken Sethney, Bill was also an Accelerate Kitsap volunteer coach and eventual board president. But far beyond these volunteer community activities and brilliant, colorful business support, Bill mentored many local business start-ups and re-starts, always with a smile, delightful wit, and boundless encouragement. In January 2012 the BBC was invited to meet every Friday morning at the remarkable OfficeXpats Coworking And Conference Center (OfficeXpats.com); Bill became one of the very first OfficeXpats members and a dedicated supporter.
One of Bill’s more memorable teaching moments was Think Club, 12 May 2017. The announcement read: Join us this Friday for an exciting spring BBC Think Club Business Strategy Problem-solving Roundtable with BBC Thinkologist Bill Ruddick, Ruddick Consulting & Adventure Tours Of The Mind! Starting with “The Power Of Forgetting” (available on amazon.com) we’ll then move onto play/share/learn. It’s a chance to hone your elevator speech, brand tag-line, business bio, or just share ideas and brainstorm with a group of fellow-travelers. A total adventure! (presentation PDF, Power_Of_forgetting)
Obituary: https://obituaries.seattletimes.com/obituary/william-ruddick-1088821613
~~~~ Alyse McConnell (1968-2021) ~~~~
From all of us at the BBC and OfficeXpats: Alyse was a Bainbridge Business Connection founding member and long-time steering committee volunteer, and also a delightfully wise counsel to all of us at the Bainbridge Business Connection, OfficeXpats, and our Island community. Her motto at the BBC was “Work, Joy, Imagine” — Thank You, Alyse McConnell (pdf). From Leslie Schneider, OfficeXpats: facebook.com/officexpats/.
Alyse on Caring Bridge: caringbridge.org Obituary, Cook Family Funeral Home: cookfamilyfuneralhome.com
~~~~ Sonia Lien (1935-2016) ~~~~
Founding BBC Regular, from the free-waffles days of the Blue Ocean Cafe, Sonia Lien Vrooman Kahanamoku died on 9 March 2016 at Bainbridge Island Health & Rehab. Sonia was always talking up BBC to everyone she met — she was an entertainer! On the keyboard Sonia sang the piano-bar classics of the 40s, 50s, and 60s, and finally, on the ukulele, developed quite a repertoire of great Hawaiian music.
In 2010, a year after we started BBC, Sonia discovered her Hawaiian roots and heritage, making joyful connection with her ’ohana in the Islands, and for the first time visiting the grave of her father, Samuel Alapai Kahanamoku. She wrote her story with coauthor K. D. Kragen From Alone To Aloha: The Sonia Lien Story, published in 2011 (alohasonia.com). Obituary: Sonia Lien Kahanamoku Obituary
~~~~ Carolyn Olberg (1948-2015) ~~~~
Remembrance to BBC Founding Regular, visionary, and partner BBC creator Carolyn Olberg, who passed away on November 26th 2015.
Thank you Carolyn for your years of support to our fun free friendly community and for your brilliant ideas and business sense which helped shape who we are as the BBC. Caroly Olberg Obituary: bainbridgereview.com/community/363664081.html
~~~~ Alice David (1966-2015) ~~~~
Inspiration, artist, and beloved BBC Regular, we all miss you, Alice.
OfficeXpats Memorial Page: Alice David