Gedion Haile
June 16, 1960 - November 13, 2014

Gedion Haile, longtime member of the greater Seattle's Eritrean and Ethiopian community, died Thursday, November 13, 2014.

Gedion came to Seattle in the early 1980s by the way of Bombay and Puna, India, where he attended his first years of college. A thoughtful and spiritual man, his years in India and his interests in Eastern philosophies further buttressed Gedion's natural kindness and immeasurable predisposition for selflessly reaching out to help others. Throughout his life, Gedion's keen eye for the unobserved, his courage, and his sense of fairness have touched countless many amongst his family, friends, coworkers, and extended community.

Gedion Haile was born June 16, 1960 to Mr. Haile Redda and Mrs. Tensae Habtu in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Growing up in Addis, as the ninth of ten siblings, the Redda's home was a cultural and familial crossroads, a storytelling canvas, and a beloved treasure that was close to Gedion's heart. A quiet, an observant, and a natural storyteller, one of Gedion's favorite pastimes was to recount the happenings of his Addis neighborhood (Geja Sefer); the comings and goings of extended family members from Digsa, Eritrea; and the trickeries and games of his beloved brothers and sisters.

In Addis, Gedion completed his elementary education at the Nativity Boys School (Cathedral School) and finished his high school studies from the Teferi Mekonen School. In Seattle, he completed his freshman and sophomore years at Shoreline Community College. He then graduated from the University of Washington's Foster School of Business with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Administration in 1987.

A tireless worker, he worked at the Ballard Market in Greenwood and also at the Bank of America while attending university. After graduation, he had a brief stint with Bank of America in Los Angeles working in their Foreign Exchange department. After returning to Seattle, he worked for Seattle City Light for over 20 years, the first twelve in Customer Service, and the last eleven in Power Management - in his last capacity as Senior Power Analyst - working on issues related to wholesale electrical power and transmission service.

Gedion is survived by his siblings, Lemlem, Asmeret, Teddy, and Selam and is blessed with many nieces and nephews who were the jewels of his eye. Though his untimely departure is hard to comprehend, he will be forever treasured by all who have been blessed by his kindness.

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