Four Legacy Gifts

SFBC recently received four legacy gifts from the estates of members and friends of the church, directed to projects and funds aligned with their interests, according to their wishes.

Phyllis and Gay Hasselblad

The Rev. Gaylord Hasselblad died on February 12, 2024; his wife Phyllis died on May 7, 2021. Gay served as director of camping, and later regional executive minister, for American Baptist Churches of the Pacific Northwest. Longtime active members of Seattle First Baptist, Gay and Phyllis were the essence of friendship and fellowship. Gay taught in the adult education program, and Phyllis was a leader in the American Baptist Women’s Ministry. They raised their three children at SFBC, where their daughter Janet Hasselblad and son-in-law Douglas Beasley are still active. Aligned with their appreciation of the church’s music program, the Hasselblads’ legacy gift helped provide the new piano for the sanctuary.

Joanne Hjort and Dennis Raymond

Joanne Hjort died on December 21, 2024; her husband Dennis Raymond died on April 5, 2024. Longtime active members who met and married at Seattle First Baptist Church, Joanne and Dennis were very active participants in the life of the church. They provided leadership in the church’s drama ministry and social justice initiatives, were supporters of the church’s music programs, and extended hospitality and friendship to many. A portion of their gift helped purchase the new sanctuary piano; the balance will support the SFBC general endowment fund.

Ronald Kerstein

Ron Kerstein died on August 25, 2024. He was a graduate of Eastern Baptist Seminary and an ordained American Baptist minister. Ron served as associate pastor at Tacoma First Baptist Church. He received a Doctorate of Pastoral Counseling degree from the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley, after which he worked as a therapist at Samaritan Center and as director of the Center for the Ministry. Ron is the brother of Joyce Phillips, a member of SFBC. His gift will support the SFBC general endowment fund.

William Halliday, MD

William “Bill” Halliday died on September 24, 2024. His remarkable journey through life was marked by a dedicated commitment to medicine, the exploration of subterranean wonders, and an impact on many through his works and writings. As a physician, he worked in the fields of surgery and vocational rehabilitation. In addition to his medical endeavors, he was passionate about the majesty of the earth’s geological structure and was an active speleologist (explorer of caves). His gift will support the SFBC building endowment fund.

We are grateful for the generosity of these faithful members and friends, for all the gifts they shared in the life of our community, and for their commitment to the future mission and ministry of Seattle First Baptist. For more information about how you can include SFBC in your estate giving, visit the church website or pick up a brochure in the narthex or fellowship hall.