J. Patrick Dobel *76

Pat died of pancreatic cancer Jan. 29, 2025, in Seattle.

Born Sept. 15, 1948, in Kansas City, he graduated from Boston College in 1970. He left college early so that he could complete service in the Army Reserve, focusing on being an Army medic. He received his Ph.D. in political theory from Princeton in 1976.

Pat began his teaching career at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. He enjoyed teaching the foundational American Government course and Ancient and Medieval Political Theory. In 1984, Pat joined the faculty of the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, where he taught ethics, leadership, and strategic management. He was appointed the John and Marguerite Corbally University Professor of Public Service in 2011. While serving as faculty athletic representative, Pat was committed to ensuring the academic integrity of the athletic program for student athletes.

Pat wrote scholarly articles for The American Political Science Review and general-interest pieces for Christian Century and Commonweal. His book Compromise and Political Action: Political Morality in Liberal and Democratic Life was published in 1990.

Pat is survived by his spouse, Lea Vaughn ’75; children Hilary ’08 and Matthew; and grandchildren Miriam and Ezra.

Graduate alumni memorials are prepared by the APGA.