Spokane7
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August 6, 2011 in City
Social critic Treecraft dies
He chose no cancer care; obituary bears his mark
Dan Treecraft lived his life the way he wanted. He ended it that way, too.
When diagnosed with tongue cancer in 2010, he decided against fighting the disease and began planning suicide.
He shared his decision in a Spokesman-Review story published last summer.
Early Thursday morning he died after breathing from a cylinder of nitrogen gas. Suicide is legal in Washington state and a group of close friends and family surrounded him, said his wife, Jan Treecraft.
Friends and family will bury the 62-year-old, nicknamed “Beetle,” at 10 a.m. today in the Worley Township Cemetery, where his wish to be buried in a simple pine coffin can be granted.
Treecraft embraced the role of social critic. He railed against establishment politics and corporations and was an outspoken opponent of war.
Many found him inspiring. Others disliked his demeanor.
Treecraft said he enjoyed spirited debate, and he strove to get in the last word.
He was a prolific writer on his “Dead Man Talking” blog and often contributed letters to newspaper editors.
His obituary published Friday blended his signature hilarity with irreverence that his wife called “pure Treecraft.”
With cancer symptoms worsening in recent weeks, eating had become painful for Treecraft, and he declared Monday that he was getting ready for his own funeral.
He wrote: “I feel some familiar dismay – at the thought that summer is on its way out, fall is readying to move in, and winter will be here all-too-soon for a thin-skinned boy like me. And … I feel a mixture of both relief and uneasiness, to think that I can’t expect to have that season-turning experience again.”
Sometimes his throat would shut, and Treecraft would struggle to breathe. Jan said it was frightening and hastened his decision to die this summer.
“He began to have many more bad days than good days,” she said.
Treecraft rejected treatment for his cancer, holding to his belief that today’s medical system is run amok, an industry dominated by a perverse mantra of fighting the inevitability of death – at any cost.
Spokane police and Dr. Sally Aiken of the Spokane County Medical Examiner’s office performed an hours-long investigation into the death.
“I will say that everyone who came here was lovely, kind and considerate,” said Jan, acknowledging that her husband often saved some of his sharpest barbs for police.
“Dan was a blessing,” she added, “and as I look ahead, I think, ‘Gee, life may not be as interesting.’ ”
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ChefGus/ John Olsen on August 06 at 6:08 a.m.
I am sad at the passing of Dan. He was a quite remarkable man, who spoke truth to power. He helped bring to light the level of distrust and fear that our “community of other” has for our police force and the police guild and helped us move at least some distance toward police oversight and review of homicides by the police department. His wry humor and gentle, respectful demeanor will be long missed in the Peace and Justice Community. Bravo Dan. John
Patanjali on August 06 at 6:27 a.m.
Dan was a long time member of the Peace and Justice Action League of Spokane, the largest, oldest, and most prominent peace and justice group in Spokane. He frequently attended rallies and spoke out often on issues. Thank you Dan for all that you have done for the cause of peace and social justice throughout yur life.
rosiethump on August 06 at 12:53 p.m.
Here is to man I respect with an esteemed value hard to describe. I wrote a letter to the editor last summer which was not selected for publication, so here is my last chance to express what I feel:
“The last word against cancer,” July 18, 2010:
Mr. Dandelion Treecraft, I salute you. Not only do I respect your choice, I, with no conditions, agree with you outright.
You are a man of principle, with a self-determined attitude and an unwavering position. You tell it as you feel from no other perspective but your own. It is no one else’s business but yours, and anyone you allow to enter your life to share this unique but ever-lurking matchless experience.
You had complete power and control of how you have lived your life, how you will handle and live the remainder of it, and yes, ending it. The choice is yours, exclusively your, and no one can divest you of this “power” of choice.
You have entered into the field of endless possibilities—actually you have been in it all along—and whatever continuing journey awaits you, it’s going to be a dozy. All I know, is, that it’s going to be…whatever “you” make of it.
I have no more words, and, the last word is yours.
David J. Rosenbeck
And it was.
sh5646 on August 06 at 7:23 p.m.
I spent about 30 minutes on a phone consultation with Mr. Treecraft about ten years ago. I was sitting under my Willow tree and was concerned about its shedding. Dan was truly a philosopher; had me thinking, laughing. I’ve never forgotten this conversation.
Admire the way he lived and the way he chose to depart.
rosiethump on August 06 at 8:40 p.m.
ChefGus. Patanjali and sh5646: Great comments; His family and many friends will embrace your words. Dave