Mary Ellen Moody Denman passed away Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at 94 years old. Alongside her husband William “Dick” Denman, who passed in 2007, the Denman’s were significant contributors to the SEFS faculty and have left a lasting legacy in the form of three faculty endowments and a student excellence fund.

Mary Ellen and Dick Denman were University of Washington alumni and gave over $3.2 million to the school over their lifetimes. As part owners of the Port Townsend Paper Company, the Denmans were supporters of the College of Forest Resources (now the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences) and remained an active part of the SEFS community. The Denmans were honored on the Washington Pulp and Paper Foundation Wall of Fame in 2001 for their contributions.

Mary Ellen was born in Everett, Washington in 1929. She graduated from the University of Washington in 1951 with a bachelor’s degree in Business Economics. Active in hospital and university volunteer work, she also enjoyed fishing and golf. Mary Ellen’s father, Anson Moody of Everett, WA, was a pioneer in the pulp and paper industry.

W. Richard Denman was born in 1927 in New York City. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1950 with a degree in Chemistry. He graduated from the Advanced Management Program at Harvard in 1969. Mr. Denman continued to be active in the pulp and paper industry after retirement.

The Denmans are survived by three children: Robert Anson Denman (’82 MS in forest hydrology, College of Forest Resources); William R. Denman III (attended the UW for three years); and Diane Denman Moxness (’76 BA, Business Administration and ’79 MBA, Finance).

This page will be updated with memorial information when we receive it.