David Bruce Bukey

Dave Bukey died peacefully on March 18, after a week of hospice care. He was surrounded by family, including his wife, Rachel, to whom he was married for 49 years.

David was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. His father, Norman, was an engineer with Cincinnati Gas & Electric and his mother, Dorothy, was a teacher. He and his older brother, Evan, both attended Walnut Hills High School in Cincinnati, then Ohio Wesleyan University, where they pledged the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity. Dave ran cross-country, sang in the choir, and majored in English. He graduated from the University of Chicago Law School in 1970, after which he moved to Milwaukee. Dave served as Interim U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Wisconsin from 1973-1974. It was at the U.S. Attorney’s office that he met Rachel, who was impressed with his intellect and the way his moustache matched his brown suede jacket. Dave and Rachel were married in 1976. They moved to Seattle in 1977 “for a couple of years” and never left. Dave worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Seattle and then practiced as a defense attorney for decades, largely in matters of federal white collar crime.

Dave was a lifelong learner who loved travel and the outdoors. Early in their marriage, Dave joined Rachel on a study abroad program in Avignon, France, where they spent glorious days touring around on a moto and eating fresh baguettes for breakfast. Dave never got the hang of French but was fearless in attempting it anyway. With several friends, Dave climbed Mt. Rainier and was an avid skier for many years. He and Rachel took their daughters camping, skiing, and on many hikes in the North Cascades. Travel highlights for Dave included a trip with PeaceTrees Vietnam and a trip to Southern Africa. Dave was also a longtime member of University Unitarian Church, where he briefly taught Sunday School, sang in the Loft Choir for decades, and enjoyed many adult education classes.

Dave’s profession was law, but his joy was music. A highlight of Dave’s life began in 1990 when he and daughter Elizabeth were supernumeraries in the Seattle Opera’s production of War and Peace. Dave began taking voice lessons and auditioned for and joined the Seattle Opera Chorus the following year. He sang with the chorus for decades, where he met wonderful friends, wore absurd costumes, and experienced the thrill of live performing. He liked to say that no one ever gave him a standing ovation in Federal Court as they did on the McCaw Hall stage.

The other love of his life was the Seattle Mariners, whom he followed religiously, albeit anxiously. He was pleased to attend last year’s playoff games.

Dave owed the last decade of his life to the miracles of modern medicine: the recipient of a double lung transplant in 2015 and a kidney transplant in 2021, he was eternally grateful to the transplant teams at UW Medical Center for excellent care.

In his post-transplant retirement years, Dave enjoyed reading, taking classes at the UW ACCESS program, walking around his Mt. Baker neighborhood, and spoiling the family dogs. At the time of his death he was in three book clubs. Dave and Rachel shared a multigenerational home with their daughter, Julianne, son-in-law, Ryan, grandchildren Eloise and Asa, and two goofy dogs.

Dave was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Dorothy, as well as his brother Evan. Dave is survived by his wife Rachel; daughters Elizabeth and Julianne, their spouses Isadel and Ryan; grandchildren Eloise and Asa; niece Ellen (Mark); nephew David (Beth); and great-nephews and -nieces Sebastian, Robin, Lauren, Kathryn, and Gretchen.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the University of Washington Medical Center.

- Care Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home -