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A Memorial will be held at 3:00 p.m. on 09/28/2026 at the Lake Forest Park Civic Club
Jack Tonkin, a Seattle native, successful entrepreneur and devoted Lake Forest Park civic leader, died on August 18th, at age 89. His was a life shaped by curiosity, imagination, determination and an instinct for bringing people together to solve problems. Those qualities were instrumental in his life and business career, but they found their fullest expression in the city he loved and served for more than half a century, Lake Forest Park, or “the Park,” as he lovingly called it.
Born in Seattle on August 9, 1937, Jack spent his childhood in Ravenna, Queen Anne and Ballard, before ultimately settling in Kirkland, where he spent many happy years. There are stories of him diving off the ferry dock in Juanita for coins tossed by passengers, and him scavenging for golf balls on the Juanita course to sell back to the very golfers who lost them. Jack was always a salesman at heart. He graduated from Lake Washington High School in 1955, the “greatest year ever,” attended Washington State University for one year, and then served a year in the Navy before beginning his professional life.
His first sales job was with Nabisco, selling Shredded Wheat to grocery chains. This is how he met his wife, Donna, in 1960. They married that same year and moved to California for his job. His next venture was with a sales and marketing company, Brown and Bigelow, selling branded merchandise to corporate clients. By this time, they had made their way back to Seattle and moved to the family home in 1967. Jack and Donna welcomed a daughter, Dana, in 1969.
In the mid-1970’s, he left B&B to start his own successful sales and marketing company, Tonkin Inc.
Tonkin Inc. primarily served the trucking industry, and Paccar was his biggest client. In addition to hats, jackets and the like, Jack had a special interest in scale models of the trucks and Tonkin Inc, and later, Tonkin Replicas, did a thriving business in them. Through Tonkin Inc, Jack traveled the world, visiting clients and making friends – from Australia to China and everywhere in between.
In 1998, Jack retired to help care for Donna, who had been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s or Lewy body dementia. She passed away in 2004. Jack spent several years involved with the local chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association, serving on its board and chairing auctions and events.
Jack had a large and close-knit group of friends from high school that he socialized, golfed and traveled with regularly. He also had a rich, 19-year relationship with Kathi Hagstrom, who he referred to as his soul mate. They went on many adventures together, traveling the world and spending time golfing and with friends. She passed away in 2019. He then had a companion, Sylvia Melsom, a high school classmate of his, and the adventures and friendships continued until his death.
Fishing was Jack’s biggest passion, and he traveled the world to pursue his hobby.He had many fishing buddies, including LFP local, Don Fiene, and his brother, Maine Tonkin. He went from Alaska to Belize, to Russia and the Maldives in quest for his favorite fish. Always catch and release. Always smiling photos of him with his prize fish.
A resident of LFP for 59 years, Jack was an active participant in civic life, serving on the City Council, the Stewardship Foundation and spearheading political campaigns and protests. His goal was always to improve the community while maintaining its unique character.
Jack had a wonderful sense of humor, a gregarious nature, and was a generous and consummate host. He will be much missed by his many friends, his community and his family. He is survived by his daughter, Dana Tonkin and three grandchildren, Devon, Drew and Daley Chapman.
