Thomas William Rabak Obituary (2024)

Thomas William Rabak was born Oct 29, 1948, in San Francisco, CA. He died April 22, 2024, in Ellensburg, WA after emergency colon surgery and a subsequent stroke. He was 75 years old. Tom was the middle child of David Rabak and Jean Reeder Rabak, growing up in West Seattle with older sister, Marti, now of Brooksville, FL, and younger sister, Judy, Madison, Wisconsin. Tom lived life to the fullest, and was, first and foremost, a friend and mentor to many. He had an infectious smile, a wonderful sense of humor, a zest for adventure, and a natural ability to teach. As a young man, he followed in his fathers and grandfathers footsteps and became a trumpeter. He attended West Seattle High school and was actively involved in student organizations, yell squad, Young Life, and West Side Presbyterian Church. He was a gifted athlete, and enjoyed hiking, climbing, and golf. He was an avid and expert downhill skier, still skiing well into his 70s. Tom graduated with a B.S. in Education and Masters of Family Studies from Central Washington University in Ellensburg WA. After graduation he and his wife Sandee Stewart took positions teaching in Old Harbor, AK, on Kodiak Island. This experience cemented his love of nature, mountains, and wildlife. While his marriage did not last, he remained devoted to motivating and educating those who came from diverse backgrounds. After returning to Washington state, Tom spent several years as a Director of Education in the WA State Correctional system. The bulk of his career was as a Civics, Marketing, and Meteorology faculty member at Tiger Mtn Community High School in Issaquah, WA. He always made a difference in students lives, encouraging critical thinking and understanding of law, history, and social issues. He advised the mock trial team for years. After retiring he moved back to Ellensburg. He taught as an adjunct in the Psychology Dept. at Central Washington University. Tom had a strong focus on mindfulness and the "now". He loved hiking the Manastash Ridge. He encouraged students, faculty, & staff to join him on these hikes; he made many friends on these forays. His love of nature included fascination with weather patterns and cloud formations; he knew all the wildflowers and species of trees. Tom felt at home in the four-season climate of Ellensburg, nestled in a valley surrounded by small mountains; life in a sunny college town east of the Cascades was a good fit. His gift was to motivate and inspire. He was wildly successful. His arm tattoos said "Attitude" and "Resilience". Tom made a difference in this world, and he will be sorely missed. Tom was preceded in death by his parents, Dave and Jean Rabak and his brother in law Bill Tatum. He is survived by his sisters Judy Wagener (Walt), Marti Tatum, many loving cousins, and Judys stepchildren John (Deidre) Wagener, Ann Wagener, and Judys step grandsons Ross Wagener and Lars Wagener. His family will determine plans for a celebration of life at a later date.