Don Mowat was a third generation Seattleite who attended Montlake and Laurelhurst elementary schools, Nathan Eckstein Middle School, and Roosevelt High School.
He received a bachelor’s degree in business administration in 1961 from the University of Washington where he was a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.
Don served as a 1st lieutenant United States Army from 1961-1964 in Germany where he was deployed when the Berlin Wall was erected. He and his high school sweetheart, Molly Kayler, were married in Munich, Germany in January 1962 and would soon have celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary.
In 1965, Don partnered with his brother-in-law, Dean Kayler, and Neil Todd, at Swiftsure Fisheries until it was sold in 1982. He then co-founded Bainbridge Sciences which specialized in diagnostic tests for certain cancers and infectious diseases. As an outgrowth of this endeavor, he co-founded MediQuest Therapeutics in 1993, a drug company which specialized in inflammatory disease, and was currently a director of Aminex Therapeutics.
In 1990, Don founded Mowat Foods, a Washington State based agribusiness focused on establishing the growing of cranberries in southern Chile.
Don was a true global citizen, a humble man who cared deeply for the marginalized and oppressed both at home and around the world. Don and Molly lived and worked in the former Yugoslavia during the Balkan War where they were twice host coordinators for a gathering of government leaders from nine central European countries who gathered in the spirit of reconciliation.
They also supported initiatives to assist refugees and war affected children. Several times, as chairman of World Concern, Don traveled to North Korea and later continued his humanitarian efforts in that country.
Don divided his time between business interests and outreach activities. His directorships included the Stewardship Foundation, Northwest Leadership Foundation, Bridge Ministries for Disability Concerns, Eagle Wings, Crista Ministries, World Concern, Seattle Pacific University, Children of the Valley, Wheat Mission and The International Theological Seminary, Los Angeles. He was also an elder in the Presbyterian Church USA.
Don was devoted to his family who survives him, his wife, Molly; son Steven Mowat, (Kristin), daughter Kathryn Kay (Bryan); five grandchildren, Stephania and Kevin Kay, Ellen, Lauren and Andrew Mowat; his brother, David Mowat; and sister, Wendy French (Bill). “Uncle Don” was also loved by many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Donald M. Mowat and Emmy Lou Mowat.
Services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 10 at Bethany Covenant Church, 1318 S. 18th St., Mt. Vernon, Washington, phone 360-424-9399.
Gifts in his honor may be made to the Donald W. Mowat Memorial Fund through the National Christian Foundation Seattle (please indicate the fund name in the memo line), 2025 First Avenue, Suite PH-A Seattle, Washington, 98121
Gifts can also be made online to the Donald W. Mowat Memorial Fund at https://seattle.ncfgiving.com/503.
