SEATTLE – Seattle Pacific University Professor Emeritus of Chemistry and 2006 SPU Athletics Hall of Fame Inductee Dr. Wes Lingren passed away May 25, 2026, leaving a lasting impact across multiple areas of the SPU community.
Over five decades, Lingren gained a unique view of Seattle Pacific. Moreover, Dr. Wes Lingren used his 360-degree perspective as an athlete, coach, and administrator in quietly shaping the future of Falcon athletics.
Lingren's association with the Falcon program began in 1950 with a two-year hitch to play varsity basketball and tennis. However, his greatest contributions came upon his return to campus in 1962. He joined the faculty as a chemistry professor, yet also poured his energies into coaching tennis. His final two men's teams each placed among the top seven in the nation and produced a charter Falcon Legend in Bob Thompson.
As the NCAA faculty athletic representative for 25 years, Lingren was a gracious and respected ambassador for athletics on campus. During a pivotal period in the development of intercollegiate sports, he helped set the course for the addition of women's varsity teams and presented the case for upgrading and expanding facilities.
Since retiring as a professor emeritus in 1997, Lingren began researching the history of SPU athletics. He volunteered for the Alumni Office and the Athletic Department, and played doubles when he and his wife, Merrilyn, were not away from their Bellevue home.
Lingren talked about his long association with SPU in 2025 for a story in
Significance, the newsletter of the Office of Endowments and Gift Planning.
A similar version of the story was republished at SPU Stories.
An obituary (written by Lingren) was published online. He and his wife, Merrilyn, were married for 59 years until her passing in 2020. Their son, Eric, and daughter, Leslie, are SPU alumni.
The family will hold a private graveside service at Tahoma National Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to
The Lingren University Scholars Endowment at SPU.
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