Dr. William P. “Mitch” Hungate
Dr. William P. “Mitch” Hungate, 61, died April 13, 2013 in an avalanche on Granite Mountain, Snoqualmie Pass, WA.
He was born November 25, 1951 in Ridgewood, NJ and moved to the Pacific Northwest with his family in 1956. Mitch graduated from Sammamish H.S. in 1970 continuing his education at the University of Washington completing both his undergraduate and dental school programs. Mitch told stories of his seven summers in Alaska cooking for the cannery workers to earn his way through University. He passed the Dental Board Exam in June of 1978 and went on to an internship in the Navy in Norfolk, VA where he served in the Public Health Sector as a Lieutenant DDS.
Mitch practiced dentistry in Renton for 34 years. He enjoyed his patients, friends, colleagues and community, winning their trust and esteem. During these years Mitch continued his affiliation with the UW; he was recognized as an Associate Professor, volunteering his time helping third and fourth year students in the dental clinic. Teaching came naturally to him. He was an avid Husky fan, never missing a season of football games.
Mitch was a member of The Knights of Columbus and a member of The Renton Rotary Club, serving as president in 1984. He received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award.
An accomplished athlete all his life, Mitch was encouraged to compete in a full Ironman Triathlon and found that he excelled at it. He won slots to the World Championship Ironman in Kona in 2006, 2007 and 2011. He also won admission to the World Championship Half Ironman in Clearwater, FL for two consecutive years and again in 2011 in Las Vegas.
Mountain climbing was his heart’s delight. It was a mutual love of the mountains that drew him and his wife, Marilynn, together some 17 years ago. Mitch climbed many of the world’s greatest mountains: Aconcagua, McKinley, Kilimanjaro, Mt. Kenya, Pico de Orizaba, the Matterhorn, Mt. Blanc, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Assiniboine and the major peaks in WA and OR. He climbed Mt. Rainier over a dozen times including two one-day ascents by different routes. The North Cascades were his playground and he mentored people in the sport as he did with triathlons, dentistry and other fields that gave him joy.
Mitch is survived by his wife, Marilynn Hungate; sister, Cheryl Hungate; brother, Robert B. Hungate, Jr.; sister-in-law, Sandra Neely Hungate; nephew, Adam B. Hungate, PhD; niece, Serenity Hungate Shelby and her husband, H. Allen Shelby; grand-nephew, Micah Burns and grand-niece, Chloe Burns. Mitch is also survived by his step-son, Brody Rutter; step-daughter, Darcy Sera and husband, Bryan Sera; their children (Mitch’s grandchildren) Lucelia Sera and Griffin Sera.
People from all walks of life found Mitch’s enthusiastic personality engaging. Heroes seldom believe the kindnesses they do are anything out of the ordinary. Mitch was extraordinary, joyfully helping and mentoring throughout his life. He is so loved and so missed by us all.
Services for William P. “Mitch” Hungate will be held on June 1st at 11am at St Matthew Lutheran Church in Renton with a reception in the church hall.
Please visit www.yahnandson.com to sign the family’s online register.
