Barry Rau

Barry Rau completed this life’s journey on December 29, 2019, at his home with his wife’s hand in his. 

Barry was born in Spokane to Harry and Wanda Rau and lovingly raised in the Kelso area. He appreciated a satisfying career focused on the mission of promoting and protecting his clients. Barry savored living in the Pacific Northwest, traveling, photography, and his family and friends. Barry considered his daughter Holly as his best contribution, he adored his grandchildren Simon and Isabel, and relished time with stepsons Josh (and Sophie) and Seth Lake. Barry delighted in sharing work and life with his wife and partner Kimberly. 

Barry was proud of his Phi Beta Kappa key earned with his B.A. in Public Administration, Finance and Information Systems at Purdue University, and his M.P.A. in Financial Management, Summa Cum Laude, at George Washington University. His long and distinguished career included interning for Senator Warren G. Magnuson at the U. S. Senate, Supervisory Management Auditor at the U. S. Government Accountability Office, Senior Consultant and Assistant Director at the Washington State Office of Financial Management, Director for the Western State and Local Government Specialized Practice Unit for Price Waterhouse, and as the Founder and Senior Partner of Sterling Associates, LLP.  Barry had a strong intention to contribute to his public and private sector clients’ successes and to improve their organizations. 

As the Sterling Associates’ founder he fused his relevant experience, keen insight, personal value of public service, and tradition of mentoring. He was very proud of the sterling consultants who worked with him and who often entered back into public service with additional skills and knowledge to apply to their leadership positions. Barry benefited by generous scholarships from the Scottish Rite Foundation and continued to contribute to them throughout his career.

Second only to his family and close friends, Barry’s love for photography was strong. His interest started in college, was temporarily set aside during his career years, and rekindled later when he carved out more time for wandering and watching. He enjoyed getting to know a “place” and then capturing images of people on the streets in their daily routines, especially against the backdrop of timeless cities like Venice and Paris. 

Barry leaves a legacy of a thriving, loving family, many people enhanced by his wisdom and expertise, friends who thoroughly enjoyed his company, and exquisite photographs capturing fleeting moments in place and time. He is no longer here in physical form, but he is with us in so many other ways and is always in our hearts, thoughts and memories.

If desired, memorials may be made to the Scottish Rite Foundation (https://www.srsfwa.org/), the Orca Network (https://www.orcanetwork.org/Main/) or a charity of your choice. 

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