Washington Sen. Andy Hill dies of lung cancer at age 54

SEATTLE — Sen. Andy Hill, the key budget writer for the Washington state Senate, has died of lung cancer. He was 54.

Hill died Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement released Tuesday by his colleague, fellow Republican Sen. Joe Fain.

A former program manager at Microsoft, Hill was elected in 2010 to represent the 45th legislative district, which includes his hometown of Redmond. Hill, who became chairman of the Senate Ways and Means Committee in 2013, was currently serving a second term following his re-election in 2014.

"He spoke often about how much he loved the people and communities he represented and how honored he was to serve them," Fain wrote. "He knew that we are faced with difficult and often partisan challenges, but he was always uplifted by the work of those who crossed party lines to solve problems."

Hill, who never smoked, was first diagnosed in 2009. The cancer ultimately spread to his lymph nodes and his other lung even after chemotherapy and radiation.

After participating in a clinical trial at the University of Colorado Cancer Center, Hill had been cancer-free since early 2010. However, in June, he announced that he was battling a recurrence, and began chemotherapy and additional treatment.

Republican Senate Majority Leader Mark Schoesler said that Hill was "one of the finest public servants the state of Washington ever knew."

"After his first recovery from cancer, he used his second chance at life to make Washington a better place to live," Schoesler wrote.

Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee called Hill "a dedicated legislator who served with distinction."

"He was a strong champion for education and a compassionate advocate for people with disabilities," Inslee wrote in a statement. "His voice in Olympia will be missed."

A memorial service will be held in Redmond on Nov. 11. Fain asked that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in Hill's name to Cancer Pathways, Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education (GRACE), or to Dr. Jed Gorden's outreach to underserved communities through Swedish Medical Center.

Hill is survived by his wife, Molly, and his three children, Katie, Allie, and Charlie.

From Washington State Sen. Joe Fain’s statement on Hill’s death:

“His passion to serve families of people with developmental disabilities led to the passage of the VIP Act -- granting life-changing services to thousands of individuals in our state. His leadership as the Chairman of the Ways and Means committee in the Senate led to unprecedented increases in funding for schools and historic reductions in tuition at our community colleges and four-year institutions.

"Outside the Legislature, he served his community in many ways. Perhaps his favorite way of giving back was as a youth soccer coach in the Lake Washington Youth Soccer League. There he combined his competitive spirit with his skills as a mentor and teacher and nurtured the next generation of young athletes.”

Anyone wishing to express their condolences for the Hill family or share memories of Andy can do so by emailing RememberAndyHill@gmail.com.

Associated Press