Alan Stanley Paja

After a long recovery from a double lung transplant in Arizona, Alan Paja unexpectedly, peacefully, died in the hospital back home in Washington state. Even in this health struggle, Alan was always an extrovert and his glass was always half-full. He remained an active father to his three children: Alexander (Alex), Ian (Carlie) and Katharine. He was their counselor, mediator, sports coach, teacher of so many things, even an employment mentor. Several summers when they were in middle school Alan took months off work (without pay) to get to really know his children. Alan fully embraced “family first”, a concept he shared with colleagues throughout his life.

Alan met his wife Marilyn in law school. They were married for nearly 43 years. He always supported her dreams and alongside a great team led her judicial campaign attending functions and pounding signs Together they made their home in Port Orchard and raised their family. The family travelled annually to the Chicago area and other vacations including a favorite spot on San Juan Island Washington. Alan and Marilyn’s last road trip together was a month-long trip in August from Chandler Arizona and finally back home to Washington, enjoying friends and family along the way.

Surrounded by a loving family (Albert Paja and Irene Waksmulski) Alan grew up in Chicago and Deerfield Illinois with his brother Ron (Mary Kay). Over the years his friends and family heard stories about growing up in a Polish Catholic family, part-time jobs, best friends from the neighborhood (Dan and John), political campaigns, White Sox and Cubs baseball, community service and golf outings. He was the first in his family to go to college.

The late 1960’s were years of friendship and political protest that shaped Alan’s future. The University of Wisconsin awarded him both a Bachelors and Masters degree in Education. He taught at Greendale Middle School for 3 years before attending Puget Sound Law School in Tacoma Washington (where he also played a lot of bridge) and became a long-suffering Mariner’s baseball fan.

Admitted to the Bar in 1980, Alan first was a criminal trial and appellate lawyer with the King County Prosecutor’s Office, and then was selected by Kitsap County to establish a public defender’s office. About the same time he began regularly writing ‘Baseball Pennings’, advice and reflection on life and baseball in general and the Mariners in particular. Alan bought several guitars while still trying to learn how to play them. As a second job he was a highly-praised part-time Constitutional law professor at Chapman University. Within just a few years Alan was recruited by the State Department of Labor and Industries, first as a lawyer-mediator and then as a manager, retiring as Director of the King County Region.

As an encore career, and continuing his long legacy of supporting workers, Alan was excited and honored to join the Pacific NW Regional Council of Carpenters. Once again he nurtured and mentored a group of leaders.

At the end of life Alan was an organ donor himself. His corneas were donated to two recipients. As one of his sons said, “They are lucky. They get to see the world through my dad’s eyes.”

_____________________________________________________________________________________
From Alan's tenure at L&I:

L&I retiree Alan Paja died on Sept. 11 at age 74 after a long recovery from an organ transplant.
Alan began state service in 1986. At L&I, he served as a hearings examiner in 1988, and then in 1994 became a program manager. He was acting Region 3 Administrator for a time before his appointment as Region 2 Administrator in 2006. Alan remained in that position until he retired from state service at the end of 2011.
________________________________________
Share your thoughts:
Sheri Oakes (brsj235) - 11/20/2023 9:55:34 AM
I am sorry to hear of Alan's passing. He brought me into state service as the IME Supervisor, 2009. He taught me the importance of completed staff work in the eyes of state government. Alan supported me in many ways specifically around being assertive. He would remind me that it was ok being me, assertive. Forever grateful! Rest in peace.
________________________________________
Deborah Rogers (rogs235) - 11/20/2023 12:39:59 PM
Alan hired me from Tumwater office to be Collections Supervisor here in Tacoma- 20 years ago. I really liked him and am so sorry to hear he passed. He supported and taught me how to be a better supervisor. He will be missed.