Apprenticeships

Winifred “Winky” Clarke Stearns Hussey

Trustee Winky Hussey passed away unexpectedly on October 9, 2023. Before joining Seattle Rep’s Board of Directors in 2013, Winky was already a 20-year subscriber, donor, and volunteer with the Seattle Repertory Organization. She loved anything that brought light and beauty into the world, especially music and theater, and was a fervent advocate for art and the people who create it.

Together with her husband, Peter, Winky brought hundreds of friends to Seattle Rep over the years, as well as their three beloved children: Luke, Duncan, and Clarkie. She was legendary for greeting everyone—whether dear friends or near-strangers—with a big hug. Winky made every person at Seattle Rep feel seen, from artists and apprentices to staff and fellow Trustees.

During her time on the Board, Winky was always among the first to support new initiatives that would have a positive impact on our community. In 2019, she and Peter agreed to co-chair and make a transformational seed gift toward Act I of the Campaign for Seattle Rep, which raised more than $20.2M to invest in our core values of Artistic Vitality, Sustainability, and Generous and Inclusive Practices.

Winky was especially passionate about Seattle Rep’s Professional Arts Training Program, which has since been renamed in her memory. Over the years, she and Peter opened their home to at least a dozen PATP interns and apprentices from around the world—providing not just free housing in an unknown and expensive city, but also a sense of family and personal support that positioned these young professionals for a life-changing experience.

Everyone at Seattle Rep felt the warmth of Winky’s incredible heart and generous spirit. As her obituary read, “Winky was a force unlike any other. She will be missed, so much, and for always.”