Arlyn Kerr

Arlyn Kerr, 80, passed away on June 23, 2025. She died peacefully at home. She was preceded in death by her daughter Julie. She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Les Kerr; son David; daughter-in-law Merissa; grandchildren Natalie/Nell and Allison; and her brother Howard Meisner.

Arlyn was born March 8, 1945 in Jersey City, New Jersey. She received a degree in mathematics from Douglass College (Rutgers University) in 1966. She did graduate work in computer science at Cornell University, where she met her husband-to-be, Les.

Arlyn moved to the Seattle area in 1970. She was a computer programmer/analyst for IBM and the City of Bellevue, retiring in 1994.

Arlyn was a longtime volunteer for the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, where she supported bone marrow transplant patients and their families, many of them coming to Seattle from abroad. Arlyn was a Campfire leader, and volunteered with school district committees, Group Health Community Volunteers, Community Services for the Blind, and Friends of the Library.

Arlyn and Les shared a keen interest in the international language Esperanto, which they first learned in 1985. They attended four international conferences, and made two extended trips to Europe as ‘senior nomads’, going from one Esperanto meeting to another and staying with Esperanto speakers in a dozen countries as they traveled from city to city.

Arlyn and Les enjoyed kayaking for many years. They lived part-time aboard a houseboat and owned a 28’ trawler which they used extensively for cruising throughout the Salish Sea.

Arlyn was a founding member of the Tuesday Trekkers, a women's hiking group that recently celebrated its 33rd anniversary. Arlyn’s interests included vegan cooking and baking (she was vegan for 27 years), pickle ball, secular humanism, quilting, and board games. Arlyn was a voracious reader and a big library supporter. She loved doing crossword puzzles (several each day), jigsaw puzzles, and word games. She was a fan of UW women's softball and volleyball.

Remembrances may be made to www.farestart.org.