Dianne Copass Zbinden

Dianne Copass Zbinden of Bainbridge Island, WA died peacefully on Friday, May 7, 2021. She was born September 2, 1942 in Los Angeles, CA.

Dianne’s early childhood was spent in Downey, CA and her teen years in Palm Springs where she was a dedicated student, star tennis player and enjoyed playing several musical instruments including piano, accordion and timpani. With her parents and brother, she made several summer trips to Guaymas, Mexico for missionary work.

Dianne attended the University of California, Santa Barbara, and made lifelong friends in her sorority, Sigma Kappa. In addition to acquiring teaching credentials in both California and Washington, she did graduate studies at Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, CA and the University of Washington, Seattle. Professionally, Dianne had a 20-year career in classroom teaching with the Seattle Public Schools. She held numerous lay positions with St. Barnabas Episcopal Church and Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church on Bainbridge Island, WA. In her retirement, she served as a Lay Chaplain and Assistant Director of Pastoral Care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, a position she dearly loved.

In 1973, Dianne married CMDR Max Zbinden, and they made their homes in Seattle and Bainbridge Island. Max was the son of Swiss immigrants, and Dianne became fully committed to polishing her German so she could communicate with relatives in Switzerland. Over the 44 years of their marriage, they made numerous trips to Switzerland and enjoyed welcoming Swiss visitors to their home.

Dianne’s interests included a passion for tennis, golf, reading, travel, the beaches of West Maui and her dogs. Living for many years with a diagnosis of Systemic Lupus, she learned to adapt to her limitations so that when she could no longer play tennis, she took up golf. When she could no longer play golf, she became the Golf Captain and Tournament Chair for women’s golf at Wing Point Golf Club. She endured many physical challenges but time and time again regained strength with an indomitable will to live as fully as possible.

Dianne was preceded in death by her husband, Max and is survived by her brother, Jack and wife Jing, stepchildren, Max T Zbinden, Michael J Zbinden, Marlene Zbinden Shea and husband Kevin, late Mark Zbinden and wife Kate, niece Melina and husband Charles and the many classrooms of children who shared their love and lives with her.

Memorial service is pending. Remembrances may be made to:

Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church
Youth Ministry and Missions
PO Box 131
Rolling Bay, WA 98061

Arrangments entrusted to Cook Family Funeral Home on Bainbridge Island, WA.