Pam Ames

Pamela Margaret Ames, of Seattle, passed away peacefully at home on November 22, 2022. She was 64. Pam was a devoted partner to her husband, Marc. She was a kind, loving, and supportive sibling to sisters Susan and Karen, a thoughtful and encouraging aunt, and an inspiring and wise teacher to over 1,000 elementary and middle school students throughout her career. She is survived by Marc Salverda and Susan Ames. Pam, the daughter of the late William and Theresa Ames, was born in Wilmington, Delaware, on March 28, 1958. Pam grew up in Newark, Delaware, and moved to Iowa City when in the fourth grade. She attended the University of Iowa before transferring to the University of Wisconsin, Madison, where she graduated in 1979 with a B.S. in Elementary Education. Shortly after graduating, Pam moved to Seattle, despite not knowing anyone there. She soon began her professional career in the Seattle public school system. Pam subsequently returned to school and earned her master’s degree in Counseling from the University of Washington in 1996. All told, she served as a dedicated and inspiring teacher for 32 years before retiring in 2016. The energy of the classroom and the satisfaction of working with groups of students was where Pam felt most at home and effective. Pam spent the majority of her career teaching fifth grade at Stevens Elementary on Capitol Hill. Pam often crossed paths with her former students in and around Seattle while walking, hiking, or biking. Pam also enjoyed cross-fit, cross-country skiing, and dancing, especially to reggae music. Swimming, preferably in salt water, was another passion of Pam’s–she relished the opportunity to search for and swim with turtles in Hawaii. Except for Maine, she visited every state in the Union. Pam also enjoyed international travel, visiting parts of North and Central America and much of Europe and the Caribbean. https://funerals.coop/obituaries/pamela-margaret-ames.html