Ken Wylie Seaman, a World War II veteran who later became a peace activist, died Saturday at St. Anthony Hospital in Lakewood. He was 92.
In 2002, Seaman ran for Colorado’s Congressional District 1 seat as a Green Party candidate. He was involved with the Colorado Coalition for the Prevention of Nuclear War.
Seaman moved to Denver in the mid-1970s to work at the Education Commission of the States. He pursued educational experiences and endeavors throughout most of his life.
Seaman and his wife, Magdalen, traveled to Eastern Europe several times from 1997 to 2002 to be election monitors in Bosnia-Herzegovina with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. The couple also lived in Mexico for three years and taught English.
“We loved to travel and meet new people,” Magdalen said. “New areas, new governments, new city life and country life … we liked to experience all of that.”
Seaman was born Dec. 24, 1923, in Hempstead, N.Y., to Wilbur and Viola Seaman. He graduated from Hempstead High School in 1942 and enlisted in the Army Air Corps, becoming a transport pilot of B-17s during World War II.
In 1950, Seaman graduated from the University of Maine. He taught high school math and science in Maine and became a school principal before moving on to a wide variety of jobs and social causes.
“What a gentleman he was,” said Hugh Cobb, a colleague and longtime friend of Seaman. “He and his wife were very active in different social justice types of things.”
Cobb said Seaman and Magdalen were arrested in the late-1980s while protesting nuclear weapons at a Nevada test site.
As part of Seaman’s social activism, he taught protesters how to peacefully demonstrate, Cobb said.
Seaman is survived by Magdalen; sons Thomas and Robert; daughters Mary Love and Barbara Ann Stauffer; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren.
Plans for a memorial service are pending. Donations may be made to the Colorado Coalition for the Prevention of Nuclear War, P.O. Box 102245, Denver, CO 80250-2245.
