Robert Joseph Guptill, former Ellensburg sports director, passed away Sunday, May 17, 2026 in Pullman, Washington following a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s disease. He was 76.

Robert was born April 3, 1950 in Colfax, Washington to Leonard and Edna Lorayne Wuerffel Guptill. He grew up in Colfax with his brother and sister and attended Colfax schools; graduating from Colfax High School in 1969. Robert attended Washington State University in Pullman where he earned his degree in journalism. His first job was for The Dalles Chronicle where he was the sports editor from 1975-1979.

Robert moved to Ellensburg, Washington where he worked for the Ellensburg Daily Record for one year before taking his dream job as the Sports Information Director for Central Washington University. He held this post from 1979 – 1990 and was mainly responsible for public relations among other things. Robert really only had two hobbies and they were sports and his job. He really loved what he was doing.

In 1990 he went to work for the Great Northwest Athletic Conference in their conference offices in Ellensburg. He was there for 15 years before moving to the Spokane and Portland offices from 2010 – 2017. Following retirement in 2017 he moved back to Colfax and closer to family. Robert was elected to the Central Washington University Hall of Fame in 2010. He loved baseball and especially the Mariners. He rarely missed listening to their games on the radio.

He is survived by his brother Chuck (Pam) Guptill at Diamond, Washington and by his sister, Angela Marlene (Tim) Bowman in Burien, Washington as well as 2 nieces and 5 nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. No service is planned.