UPDATE: A Celebration of Art?s Life will be held at 2 p.m. on Monday, June 27, at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 3218 West Barrett in Magnolia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations should be made to the Moyer Foundation, 2426 32 Ave. W., Seattle, WA 98199.
We received word tonight that long time Magnolia resident and businessman Art Van der Wel has passed away after a short battle with cancer. He was 64 years old.
Many of you know Van der Wel from his high profile real estate career and civic and charitable contributions in Magnola. A native of Seattle, he attended Queen Anne High School and the University of Washington. According to his website, he opened the Art Van der Wel Company in 1975 and in 1986 he developed Quorum Real Estate with offices in Magnolia, Laurelhurst and Madison Park. In 1992, Van der Wel purchased Metcalf and Associates on Queen Anne Hill. He was an active member of the Board of Realtors, North End Brokers Association, Puget Sound Multiple Listing Association, Secretary of Seattle Quality Listings, Treasurer of the Seattle-King County Association of Realtors, and Director of the Washington Association of Realtors.
In 1994, he sold the Magnolia and Queen Anne offices to Windermere Real Estate and returned to sales, where he was a top producer in residential, condominium, multi-family and commercial properties. Van der Wel also owned and manages numerous properties in Magnolia, Queen Anne, and the greater Seattle area. He was a member of the Magnolia Commercial Club and the Magnolia Community Club.
Funeral arrangements for Van der Wel are pending.
RIP Art,….Dave B.
I’m sorry to hear this. I didn’t know him well, but of course knew who he was. Seemed like a good guy from the few times I met him, and his involvement in the Magnolia community will be missed.
How sad. Art helped my wife and I buy our first home in Magnolia, then as our family grew our second. He was a true gentlemen and so patient. RIP Art. I’ll miss you and your ever present smile & wave when I saw you in the village.?
Dave
So sad.? A gentleman, a top RE agent, a great Santa Claus, and friend.? You will be missed, Art!? Peggy Masterson
So sad.? A gentleman, a top RE agent, a great Santa Claus, and friend.? You will be missed, Art!? Peggy Masterson
A real shame.? Art should have had plenty of years left.? RIP
Art WAS Seattle.? Any drive around the local real estate and he likely sold it, leased it, managed it, or owned it sometime in his career.?
Art was the ultimate gentleman, I never heard him say a single swear word, he always walked on the ‘car side’ of the street to protect me, he paid for everything and I never opened a door myself.
Most of all, Art was fun!? He loved to laugh and people were drawn to him?the moment they met him.? Art was a dawn to dusk Realtor, and so many of us called Art when we had a question and he always made us feel like we were the most important part of his day.? He was a?big fan of the Mariners and outdoor concerts and a huge support to local charitable organizations.?
Art, your irresistable laugh?and happy optimism will be greatly missed.? I am greatful for our time together and wonderful memories.? I will remember you always.
I bought my first house 19 yrs ago – Art was the listing agent and he could not have been nicer to a then 25 yr girl new to real estate.? He also helped me sell that house a few years later.? I remember staying during?during the open houses just to talk with him – he taught me so much!? We stayed in touch over the years despite several cross country moves and when I finally moved back to Seattle, he was one of the first people I called.? Since then he helped me buy/sell two more houses, he saw me get married and became a wonderful friend to me, my mom and my husband.? Art was one of the most generous individuals I’ve ever that the pleasure to know.?? We will miss you Art!
It’s not seeing your car parked on the street in the village at 0630, seeing you cross the street from Tully’s, a smile and a wave as you drive by…always a kind word, a silver lining kind of guy.
You are a great friend, inspiration,and you will be deeply missed.
Thank you for your presence in my life and to all of those you touched.
miss you.
“The mayor of Magnolia” (As I liked to call him)? was one of the kindest, most inspirational, men I have known.? Has been an amazing family friend and mentor for years.? He will be missed but surely not forgotten.
Incredibly sad news for me and my family. ?He was always available and willing to do whatever it took to serve his clients. ?I never heard him say anything even the slightest bit negative about anyone – even when it was deserved. ?He was ?ALWAYS available to show us a house, and we looked at dozens, and kept our children occupied when they were toddlers. ?Art was kind, patient and always willing to help us. ?We spent quite a bit of time with Art, having purchased and sold 4 Magnolia houses with Art ?. And he even traveled out to Bainbridge Island with us – he did ?whatever it took to serve his customers. ?We will never see the likes of Art Van Der Wel again.
God Bless you Art. ?We will all miss you.
Kyle – Margaret Ann – Greta – Elsa ? ??Bollmeier
Charlottesville, VA
This is such sad news. ?Art was a gentleman, a friend and always made me laugh. ?Art WAS Magnolia and it will not be the same without him. ?Rest in Peace dear Art! ?You will be forever missed!
Art was a cherished family friend.? I still remember seeing Art dressed up as Santa for the Holiday Open House in the Village like it was yesterday.? He was such a special person and our hearts go out to his family.? I truly feel there should be some permanent memorial in the Village with the name of Art Van der Wel.??? Jacque & Rusty Coe
What sad news.? We met Art 12 years ago when we gave buying property a try, and when we determined that buying wasn’t an option due to financial reasons Art helped us look for rental properties!? While others would have let us go Art took it another mile to help us.? We’ve never forgotten him, nor will we.?
Shawn & Sarah