A Newsletter for Friends and Alumni of the University of Washington
UW Ties Run Deep for Blumenfeld

Chuck Blumenfeld (‘66, ‘69) was born into a UW family, but he considered attending college out of state. He changed his mind after his father questioned why he would move away with an outstanding university just a short walk from their Montlake home. Blumenfeld now says that attending the University of Washington was the best decision he has ever made.

Today, Blumenfeld is president of the University of Washington Alumni Association (UWAA), where he is responsible for helping other alumni build lifelong relationships with the University. With events ranging from tailgate parties to lecture series, “We’re trying to help the University make alumni and friends aware of all the wonderful things going on on campus and all the talented people here,” Blumenfeld says. “We’re trying to do as much as we can to get people back to campus because we think that has the real ability to connect people back to the University in a way nothing else can.”

As a student, Blumenfeld dove head first into the UW experience, becoming president of the Interfraternity Council and later enrolling in the School of Law, where he was Student Bar Association president. After graduation, he worked for Sen. Henry “Scoop” Jackson (‘35) in Washington, D.C. for four years before returning to Seattle to become an environmental law specialist at Bogle and Gates. In 1999, he moved to Perkins Coie, where he leads the environmental and natural resources practice. Despite his demanding career, Blumenfeld always finds time for the UW. He was a board member of the School of Law Alumni Association before becoming UWAA president last year.

University of Washington connections are strong throughout Blumenfeld’s family. Both of his parents attended the UW, and his father, Irwin (‘30), served as the University’s director of information services from 1949 to 1974. His wife, Karla Axell (‘83), and his daughter Lisa (‘99) are graduates. His son broke tradition by attending UCLA, but there’s still hope for his stepson, who’s in high school, and the next generation after him: Blumenfeld has two grandchildren entering their toddler years. UW

For more on the UWAA, visit www.washington.edu/alumni.

Return to Spring 2006 Campaign Newsletter