‘TITANISH’ SAILS INTO GREEN LAKE

By Laura Marie Rivera

This weekend, the unsinkable parody “Titanish” crashes onto the shores of Green Lake.

Back by popular demand, this disaster comedy, directed by Queen Anne’s Mark Siano, was the 2022 Winner of Broadway World’s Best New Musical.

Bruce Hickok Ransom Jr. passed away at the age of 74 on June 11, 2023. His wife of 38 years, Sonia, was by his side.

In his will, Bruce wrote “I am not looking forward to being dead. It wasn’t my idea. As I am writing this letter, I am missing all of you already.” He had an incredible sense of humor, even in his final days. In letters he left for his family, he wrote “Don’t worry” on the envelope, a testament to his constant love and care.

To talk about Bruce is to talk about so many different things – Bruce was a family man, musician, hydroacoustician, car enthusiast, writer, photographer, outdoorsman, and world traveler. He was a meticulous record keeper of his many jobs, performances, hikes, and more. While it would be impossible to share all of his incredible stories, we hope the following does his beautiful life some justice.

Bruce was born in Ames, Iowa to Bruce Hickok Ransom Sr. and Miriam Freridge on January 29, 1949. He was the oldest of 7 siblings and his family moved from Iowa to Arizona, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Washington throughout his youth. He was a loving husband, father, and grandfather to his wife Sonia; his children Alicia, Natasha, and Chris; and grandchildren Riley, Jackson, Lily, and Twyla. They remember him as playful, silly, brilliant, adventurous, and kind.

When Bruce was 12 and living in Mississippi, Alabama, and New Orleans, he fell in love with blues music. His father bought him his first guitar at the age of 14 and he started teaching himself music he heard on the radio. He joined his first band as a bass player during his senior year of high school and went on to hone his craft, becoming a respected musician in the Seattle area. Throughout his career, he played in bands with Ron Holden, Brady Anderson, Jay Thomas, Isaac Scott, Mauva Belle, Leon Blue, Taj Mahal, Elvin Bishop, Kathi McDonald, Tony Coleman, Tab Benoit, Kenny Neal, Billy Branch, Jimmy Burns, Mitch Woods, Roy Gaines, Joe Johansen, and many others. His last band was Blues on Tap, with Jim Plano, Steve Peterson, and Ray Hartman. Bruce played over 2000 times in over 200 clubs, festivals, cruises, and other venues, in eight different countries.

He received his BA in English Composition and his BS in Fisheries from the University of Washington.

Bruce was a founding member of Hydroacoustic Technology, Inc. (HTI) and presided as the company’s president from 1990-2007. He managed fisheries studies using acoustic tag and hydroacoustic technologies, conducted worldwide in lakes, rivers and in the sea. He authored over 100 publications and technical reports and taught training courses on the use of acoustic tags and hydroacoustics for fisheries assessment for over 20 years. Bruce retired in 2017. His leadership had a profound impact on the people he worked with, who remember him as a thorough and compassionate colleague with an insatiable sweet tooth.

As a writer, he published nonfiction in Backpacker, Snowy Egret, Big City Rhythm & Blues, Fur-Fish-Game, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Hydro Review, and Northwest (Oregonian), among others. His fiction has been published in Open Spaces and EWR: Short Stories. Bruce’s wildlife photography has been published in Sports Afield, Fur-Fish-Game, Washington Wildlife, and others.

He loved to hike, camp, and fish throughout the Pacific Northwest, and in his lifetime, he went on over 275 backpacking trips. In 2011 he had a cabin built on Shaw Island in the San Juans, where he spent time with his family every year. Part of his legacy is a Trust for the cabin so his family can enjoy the wilderness in perpetuity.

Bruce loved to travel, and to make friends with people from many cultures (including his wife.) He enjoyed with equal gusto fancy dinners at Michelin stars restaurants in Spain and France, cafeteria food in Japan, smoked salmon in Alaska (living in a tent with grizzly bears watching across the river), asados in Argentina, whisky in Scotland, and beer in Prague. He had tremendous appreciation for the people and cultures that enriched his life. He passed on to his children a love of travel, taking them all over the world, and telling them stories from his many trips. He was always in awe of the beauty of the places and the relatability of the people he visited.

Bruce was generous with his money, his time, and his love. He wholeheartedly supported his children’s pursuit of the arts, travel, and education. He led a beautiful life that mattered to the many who loved him.

At Bruce’s request, there will not be a funeral. In lieu of flowers, please go see some live music, supporting local musicians in your area, as Bruce would have wanted.

We hope you think of him the next time you listen to the Blues, drink a Washington cabernet, hear a bad joke, or spend time in nature.

Siano is a founding member of The Habit comedy troupe and also helped create the bestselling “A Very Die Hard Christmas.” He will be on hand to serve drinks and cater to the firstclass ticket holders.

Performances begin Aug.10 at Green Lake’s Bathhouse Theater (7312 West Green Lake Dr N) and continue through Sept. 17.

Tickets range from limited $10 Stern Boarding Passes all the way up to exclusive $100 First Class Deck Chairs with drink service and can be purchased at SeattlePublicTheater. org.

July12,1949~August7,2018

GinaC.RembiesapassedtotheothersideunexpectedlyonAugust7, 2018.Shewasatalentedanddeeply compassionatePsychotherapistfor over40years.Thoughalwayspetite instatureshehadenormouspresence.Inadditiontobeingavoraciousmysterybookreader,she thoroughlyenjoyedactionmovies, TVreruns,andcooking.Shemaintainedalifelongaffectionforand respectofallanimals,especially cats.Shewasawomanofgreat spirit,furiousdetermination, infectioushumor,anddeeplove. Sheistenderlymissedandjoyfully rememberedbymany,including KittiesBlaiseandEveandher husbandTom. Memorialscanbemadeto www.teenfeed.org.