Benjamin Max Sokolow

Benjamin Max Sokolow was born in Seattle, Washington on November 26, 1983, to Sanford and Rebecca (Rosinbum) Sokolow. He grew up in the Phinney Ridge neighborhood of Seattle, attending Olympic View Elementary, Whitman Middle School, and Ballard High School.

As a loving brother to his sisters, Ana and Sarah, Ben was protective, supportive, patient, gentle, and kind. His sisters were very important to him, and he cherished their time together. Ben had an incredible sense of humor, always finding the humor in life and making good-natured jokes with his sisters. Going on family trips, hiking, swimming, and skiing were some of his favorite activities, but just being together was what mattered most to him.

Ben had a tremendous love of the outdoors and was passionate about soccer, mountain biking, hiking, camping, and snow sports, but his favorite was soccer. He played for many years on the Woodland Soccer Club team his father coached and became a referee at age eleven. He continued to referee through high school and college, refereeing both youth and adult matches.

Ben loved the snow, cross-country and downhill skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Winter ski trips to the Methow Valley, trips to Hood Canal, Priest Lake, and the Washington coast with family and friends were the highlights of the year for him, where he could do the things that made him happy with the people he adored.

Ben attended Western Washington University and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology (2007). One of the highlights of his years at WWU was working in the WWU Outdoor Center, where he shared his love for people, nature, and outdoor activities with students and staff. His caring and supportive supervisor was a mentor to him, and they remained friends long after he graduated.

After college Ben joined AmeriCorps, a natural fit for his altruism and compassion. He tried other jobs but struggled with mental health challenges. He valiantly persevered and was able to find some peace and stability with the help of medication and therapy. The last few years of his life he lived happily at Navos, a supportive housing community in West Seattle, where he was respected and loved by the residents and staff for his generosity and sweet spirit. At Navos he found community and friendship. Riding his beloved bike to nearby Lincoln Park, shopping for the other residents, and cooking interesting and creative meals with his friends were favorites of Ben's. Going on bike rides, hikes, and out to restaurants with his beloved parents also were highlights.

Despite his illness and its many hardships, Ben remained loving, kind, compassionate, generous to a fault, and a loyal son, brother, uncle, and friend. His nieces and nephews meant the world to him, and he took great pride in his role as an uncle. Ben treasured his family and stayed connected even when he was going through a rough patch. He was positive, gentle, affectionate, funny, inclusive, a great listener, and incredibly brave and resilient. Ben was a rare gem. He was a forgiving person without judgment or harsh words for others, always seeing the good in people. Ben treated everyone he met with kindness and compassion, always willing to share encouraging words and a smile.

Creating art was one of his passions throughout life. Drawing Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and designing athletic shoes were some of his first subjects. A talented artist, he frequently made beautiful drawings and paintings for those he loved, often in the form of handmade cards. As a baker he enjoyed cooking for others; his homemade pizza and cinnamon rolls were favorites.

Ben passed away unexpectedly in his sleep from undiagnosed Dilated Cardiomyopathy on March 29, 2022. We are grateful for the short 38 years we had with him. His monumental hugs and tender smiles will be with us forever. We like to think he is skiing, hiking, mountain biking, and kicking a soccer ball with his favorite dogs, Ramona, Ruby, Neah, and Canyon who are waiting for him in a better place.

Ben was preceded in death by his grandparents, Sidney and Francis Sokolow of Miami, FL; grandfather Ralph Rosinbum of Seattle; and brother-law Jeremy Potter of Ellensburg. He is survived and greatly missed by his parents, Sandy and Becky Sokolow of Seattle; sister Sarah and family (brother-law-law Gabe, niece Sierra and nephew Solly) of Acme, WA; sister Ana (nephew Jack) of Shoreline; grandmother Colleen Rosinbum of Seattle; dozens of aunts, uncles, and cousins living throughout the United States and in Germany; and many friends.

Memorial contributions in Ben's name may be made to Navos MultiCare Behavioral Health Foundation, PO Box 5296, MS:1313-3FDN. Tacoma, WA 98415-0296.

A celebration of life was held on September 18, 2022, at Camp Long in West Seattle.