From The Seattle Times April 10, 2022
Local author Mary Daheim passed away after a brief illness.
Mary was born to Hugh and Monica Richardson in Seattle, WA. She grew up in the Wallingford neighborhood surrounded by relatives in houses within blocks of her own.
Mary knew her vocation as a writer very early. She wrote her first book at the age of eight and never looked back, graduating from Lincoln High School and then the University of Washington, where she was the first non-wartime female editor of the UW Daily. After graduating from the UW, Mary immediately went to work for a small newspaper in Anacortes, WA, an experience that would later provide great fodder for her Alpine book series. Small town life was not for her.
Mary enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city and worked for the phone company for many years in public relations. She passed on a management job in New York with the phone company to marry David Daheim, to whom she was married for over 40 years. They had daughters Barbara Resnick, who predeceased Mary in 2020, Katherine Evanson (Dennis) and Magdalen Daheim (Paul Webber). Mary’s grandchildren are Flynn Resnick, Clara Resnick and Loki Webber.
Mary wrote and published more than 60 books; historical romances and then mysteries. Her Alpine and bed and breakfast mystery series were set locally. In 2000, Mary won the Literary Achievement Award from the Pacific Northwest Writers Association. In October 2008, she was inducted into the UW’s Communication Alumni Hall of Fame.
Mary never retired or stopped writing. As she said on many occasions, “I don’t know how to do anything else.”
Mary was a woman of faith her entire life. She always tried to find common ground with people. That made her extremely compassionate.
Mary did not want a funeral. She would be delighted if you shared a memory of her clever wit, sense of fun, creativity and talent over a strong drink (or a root beer float) and a good meal, or to curl up with a good book. A real one, with paper pages preferred.
Donations in Mary’s memory can be made to the Little Friends Barbara Resnick Scholarship for Little Friends Preschool on Queen Anne Hill, Seattle, WA. Checks can be made out to “Little Friends Preschool” with “Barb Resnick Memorial Fund” written in the memo.
If you would like to share memories about Mary, there is a virtual guestbook.
I have been a penpal of Mary for many years and we emailed each other approximately 3 times a week, we knew of each others history and loved ones, It was only when I hadn’t heard from her after a couple of emnails did I find out she had died. I will really miss her and all the things we told each other on our correspondence. I wish her family all the love
from a very good friend of Mary and wish you all well.
So sad to read of Mary Daheim’s passing.Ive enjoyed her writing style so much. I was looking to see when the next Alpine book would be out, knowing it would start with C.
She has left Emma & Milo in a very nice place in life. I’m sad I won’t read more if their new adventures but there’s all the old ones to re-enjoy.
I just found out Mary passed away in March. I was trying to find her latest Bed & Breakfast Mystery. I loved her books & have read them for years. I will miss her tremendously.My sincere sympathies to Mary’s family.
To: Mary’s family. Just discovered her passing. I’m in the middle of re-reading the Alpine Advocate series for the third time. Her love of Washington shows in her writing. My husband and I lived in Olympia for 25 years and prior to that in Oregon and California. We are now retired back in the beloved Pacific Northwest. Mary continues to remind me how wonderful it is to live here. Delving into Alpine (love that there is now a plaque showing where Nippon once was) from time to time is like coming home. Bless you Mary Daheim for all the hours of special reading. A very special person. Rest in Peace.
I was trying to find Mary’s latest Bed & Breakfast mystery, also. Just found out she passed away in March. Rest in Peace, Mary. I so enjoyed your sense of humor with Judith Flynn and her cousin. My condolences to her family.
I just saw that Mary Daheim passed away this past March my condolences to her family. I have been trying to find her latest bed and breakfast book for the last year. When I pre ordered the book they kept changing the release date now they say June of 2023 I hope that is true. I love bed and breakfast series. I will miss her writing. I hope her new book is out soon I will miss her.
RIP Mary. Thank you for your wonderful characters that will live on forever!