Troy Biddle and Baden Biddle

Troy Biddle (52) and Baden Biddle (13) passed away on Nov. 25, 2017, in a car accident in San Pablo, California, in which Troy’s brother-in-law and Baden’s uncle, Daryl Horn (50), and Troy’s nephew and Baden’s cousin, Joseph Horn (14), also died.

The family had been together over the holiday weekend and were driving home from an annual father-son basketball tournament when the car driven by Jared Horn (19), who survived the accident, was struck by another car. By all accounts, everyone had an amazing day at the tournament, not only playing basketball but also laughing, making new friends and reconnecting with others.

Troy was born in 1965 and raised in Astoria, Oregon. He graduated from Astoria High School in 1983, earned his bachelor’s of science from the University of Oregon in 1988 and juris doctorate from Willamette University in 1998. As a lifelong Ducks fan, while at UofO, Troy was also active member of Phi Delta Theta fraternity where he made a number of close friends.

Troy attended Willamette School of Law following a career with Durham & Bates in Portland, Oregon, and in Seattle, where he started the company’s first maritime insurance practice. It was at the first day of law school orientation in 1995 when he met and became friends with Amanda Horn, who years later he would marry. Following law school, they both clerked for the Lane County Circuit Court judges, lived in Redondo Beach and practiced law in Southern California and ultimately settled in Bainbridge Island in 2007 to raise their two children, Baden James Biddle and Devon Isabel Biddle. While he practiced at several regional and national law firms after moving to Washington, earlier this year he and two colleagues formed their own firm, Carroll Biddle Bilanko. This move, along with his partnership in a heated glove company, Chaval Outdoor, showcased Troy’s entrepreneurial spirit.

Troy possessed a strong sense of commitment to his family, friends and community. Over the years, he devoted a great deal of energy to coaching as an extension of his love of sports and knack at helping people define, set and achieve their goals. While Troy enjoyed cycling, river rafting and other outdoor adventures, he may have been happiest at home with friends and family, where his quick wit coupled with deep insight and critical listening could shine. Troy was a relationship-builder, and he loved connecting his family with his many friends, from fraternity brothers to childhood friends to colleagues and his Bainbridge Island community.

After attending Odyssey, a multi-age school program on Bainbridge Island from second through sixth grades, this fall Baden Biddle excitedly started seventh grade with his teammates and other friends at Woodward Middle School. Last month he tried out and made the seventh-grade Woodward Middle School basketball team, as well as the Roots traveling basketball squad that was to be coached by Troy. It was no surprise that early on Baden developed a love for sports, especially football, basketball and baseball. Undoubtedly because of Troy’s enthusiasm for all sports and natural ability coupled with the Horn family’s deep roots in sports, Baden started playing on teams through parks and rec as soon as possible. Baden’s skills in any given sport may have taken several years to develop, but his sense of friendship, teamwork, respect and everything else that it takes to be a good teammate was present from the beginning. Baden’s positive attitude made him the consummate teammate and friend.

Baden cannot only be defined by his love of sports, although he could rattle off the latest sports news and statistics at will. Baden also had a great ear for music, played guitar, and listened to everything from classic rock to rap. Like his father, Baden had an analytical mind, was incredibly observant, possessed a sharp wit and although somewhat reserved, was quietly self-assured for his age. And like his mom, Baden seized every opportunity to create memories with friends and never took himself too seriously. The sparkle in Baden’s eyes, bright smile, gentle personality, and creative sense of humor will be deeply missed by his family, friends, teachers and community.

Troy and Baden’s lives will be remembered at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 9 at the Bainbridge Island High School Commons; and at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 11, at The Loft at the Red Building in Astoria, Oregon. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Troy and Baden Biddle Memorial Fund located at Wells Fargo branches.

Troy Biddle and Baden Biddle are survived respectively by: wife and mother, Amanda Horn, Bainbridge Island; daughter and sister, Devon Biddle (10), Bainbridge Island; mother and grandmother, Judy Benson, Astoria; brother and uncle, Todd Biddle (Debbie), Portland; niece and cousin, Ashley Gram (Chris), Portland; father-in-law and grandfather, Dan Horn (Betsy), American Canyon, Calif.; sister-in-law and aunt, Denise Horn, and nephew and cousin, Jared Horn; niece and cousin, Greta Horn, Napa, Calif. Troy and Baden were preceded in death by father and grandfather Ronald Biddle and mother-in-law and grandmother Helen Lautenschalger.