Irwin and Betty Lou Treiger photograph collection, 1930-1940

Irwin Treiger was born in Seattle on September 10, 1934 to immigrant parents Sam and Rose (Steinberg) Treiger, who owned and operated Thrifty’s Ten Cent Store in Seattle’s Central District for many years. He attended Horace Mann School, Seattle Talmud Torah, and Garfield High School. Irwin graduated from the University of Washington (Phi Beta Kappa) in 1955 and from its Law School in 1957, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review; he received his LL.M. in taxation from New York University the following year. Irwin’s distinguished 56-year legal and civic career began upon his return to Seattle when he joined the firm of Bogle & Gates where he was Managing Partner for five years and Chair for eight years. He later was an attorney with Dorsey & Whitney and Stoel Rives, where he was Of Counsel until his death. He was listed in Best Lawyers in America (1983-2013).

His professional activities included Washington State Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Bar Foundation, American College of Tax Counsel, American Tax Policy Institute and American Law Institute. His many civic activities included the Greater Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle, Corporate Council for the Arts, Samis Foundation, Seattle Symphony Foundation, The Seattle Foundation, UW School of Law Visiting Committee, Cornish College of the Arts, Mayor’s Symphony Panel, Seattle Baseball Park Commission, Rotary Club of Seattle, Seattle Rotary Foundation, Seattle Rotary Service Foundation, Washington State Historical Society, Seattle Junior Chamber of Commerce, King County Multiple Sclerosis Society, Seattle Hebrew Academy, The Jewish Transcript, American Israel Public Affairs Committee, Northwest Foundation, Corporate Council for the Arts, Seattle Day Nursery Association, and Puget Sound Regional Council. He served in leadership roles in the majority of these organizations. In recognition of Irwin’s receipt of the Benjamin Cardozo Outstanding Service Award, Governor Gary Locke proclaimed May 28, 1997 “Irwin Treiger Day.” Irwin was married to Betty Lou (Friedlander) Treiger for 56 years and had children Louis, Karen, and Ken.

He died October 20, 2013 after a brief illness.

Source: Adapted from obituary of Irwin Treiger published in The Seattle Times from Oct. 21 to Oct. 22, 2013.

Betty Lou (Friedlander) Treiger grew up in the Magnolia neighborhood of Seattle. She attended Queen Anne High School, where she was one of several Jewish students, and the University of Washington. Her family was active in Temple de Hirsch Sinai.