Ariel “Max” Villareal, 56, formerly of Iowa City, died March 27, 2009, in Seattle, Washington.. A Celebration remembering Max’s life for family and friends will be held sometime in July (date and time to be announced) at the Glenn Shima Farm in rural Solon. During this time a display of mini-Max memorabilia and movie of his funeral services from Seattle will be available along with a pig roast in true style of Max’s family and friends. Ariel grew up in Iowa City. He was a superb athlete at City High in football. He was an All-Conference selection as a junior and senior as a defensive back. Max was 5’5”, 114 lbs. as a junior and 118 lbs. as a senior. After graduation from City High, he bought a motorcycle and traveled up and down the west coast. He liked Seattle and chose to make it his second home. Max graduated from Washington University in Seattle with a B.A. in Eastern Culture. He spoke Japanese. He attended the Writers’ Workshop at Yale and the University of Iowa and was a gifted writer of short stories, plays and poems. Ariel spent the last 30 years of his life in Seattle and Vashon Island. He published and produced several plays in Seattle. Ariel made many friends through his charm, easy nature and incredible generosity. He became close to a number of people who were willing to trade wine, stories and shelter for a lot of elbow grease. In addition to writing, he loved jazz, snowshoeing, and a good party. Ariel was a star employee at several firms and organizations including Garvey, Schubert, and Barer (law firm) and the Swedish Cancer Institute in Seattle. Max will be greatly missed by the many people he touched. He is survived by his daughter, Olivia Robinson of Seattle; father, Frank Villareal of Iowa City; brothers, Jerry of Plainfield, Illinois and Ben of Davenport, Iowa. A funeral has already been conducted for Ariel in Seattle. His remains will stay in Seattle where his daughter lives.
