Obituaries

Janeth Rae Elliott Trowbridge, 91, of Seattle, died February 1, 2023 at home surrounded by her family.

Jan was born in Portland, Oregon on January 29, 1932, to Paul S. and Gladys Elliott. She was raised and nurtured by the woods in the nearby rivers and at the seaside. She attended Willamette University, finishing her Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts with honors at San Jose State University in California. Following graduation, she worked in Italy for the United Service Organizations. She taught middle and high school Arts & Crafts at St. Helens High School and Hedrick Jr. High in Medford, Oregon. It was in Medford where she was a founder of the Rogue Gallery and Rogue Valley Art Association. Both organizations brought nationally and internationally recognized artists to the Valley where they influenced the local art scene and public-school art education. Twenty years later, she became the Gallery Director and Executive Secretary for the Art Association.

Jan married her first husband, Benjamin James Trowbridge Jr., in 1960 at the First Congregational Church in Eugene, Oregon. Together they had four children – Kaylea, Cameron, Peter, and Kirk. She worked with her husband in their innovative store featuring the best possible design in toys, housewares, and local artist’s work. Later she designed residential, office and church interiors and was a community volunteer.

Her community work included serving in the PTA, Jackson County Mental Health Board, Children’s Shelter Home, and the Summer Children’s Festival held at Jackson County Britt Park in Jacksonville, OR. She was most delighted with her role in co-creating the Artist in the Schools, which grew from a city to a county-wide program. The program placed artists-in-residence in elementary schools–exposing children and educators to the visual arts–transforming schools into creative, colorful, and welcoming places.

In 1984 she brought her love of nature, children, and art to Seattle. From 1986 to 1996, she was the Program Creator and Director at the Grosvenor House Senior Residence. From 1995 to 2010 she was married to Salvator Ziz and co-parented his son’s Scott and Sebastian.  Following her retirement, she volunteered as a divorce recovery counselor, served on the Elderwise Board, Seattle, and was a Senior Warden at St David Episcopal Church, Shoreline WA.

She was foremost an artist and illustrator working mostly with pencil, watercolor, pastels, and Sumi-e. She participated in activities at the Seattle League of Arts, Shoreline Arts Council, Seattle Co-Arts, and Art/Not Terminal Gallery.

In her own words, “For me being an artist has been a way of life more than a vocation. Drawing has always been a joy. Creating is always an adventure. I choose subjects I am passionate about, hoping the feeling comes through. We have such an exquisite world, I want to emphasize its value before we thoughtlessly squander it. I want to emphasize that children are precious and need to be seen, appreciated, and acknowledged as uniquely themselves. In short, I want to facilitate seeing, feeling and appreciating.”

Jan is survived by her sister Ann Denny, her children and their spouses and partners, seven grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, a large extended family, and many best friends.