Lish Whitson

Lish Whitson of Seattle died the morning of February 11, 2026 from complications of leukemia. He was born in Washington D.C. in 1942 and grew up in Bethesda, Maryland. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University, he applied for and was accepted by the Peace Corps to go to Afghanistan.

It was in training for the Peace Corps at the University of Texas, Austin that he met Barbara Sullivan. They married after knowing each other for a month, and served in Mazar-i-Sharif Afghanistan for two years. In Afghanistan Lish taught English and started a pottery cooperative. After the Peace Corps, they settled in Seattle, where they lived together for the next 55 years.

He graduated from the University of Washington School of Law in 1973. His legal practice lasted for more than 50 years, including time at the Public Defenders Association, Helsell Fetterman, and his own law firm. He finished his career as an arbitrator and mediator at JAMS. Of particular importance to him was building an ethical legal community in Washington State.

He served as president of the King County Bar Association Young Lawyers Section, a trustee of the King County Bar Association, Governor of the Washington State Bar Association, and as an active member on many boards, committees, and commissions. In 1993, the King County Bar Association gave him its Pro Bono Award, and in 2000 it recognized him with its Outstanding Lawyer Award.

Lish was a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, the King County Bar Foundation, and the American College of Trial Lawyers. He was also a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates, a charter Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, and a member of the William Dwyer Inn of Court, all organizations dedicated to promoting excellence in advocacy, ethics, and professionalism. In 2025, the King County Bar Association gave him their Distinguished Service Award and named The Lish Whitson Moderate Means Program after him. That same year, the Washington State Section of ABOTA gave him their lifetime achievement award.

Lish particularly enjoyed travelling with Barbara and their children. He was on a four and a half month cruise that took him from Antarctica to Greenland, when he was diagnosed with leukemia.

Lish is survived by his children Lish Richard (Joel) and Kimberly; his sister Clytie (Bob) Taylor, many nephews, nieces, great-nephews and nieces, friends and colleagues. A celebration of life will be held in April. Remembrances should be sent to the Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center or Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.