C L A S S FIFTY YEAR CLUB Robert E. Dernbach ’41 passed away on March 11, 2012, in Puyallup, Wash. He served as a paratrooper in World War II and started the D&D Plastics Company in Tacoma, Wash. His wife of nearly 60 years, Dolores, passed away in 2007. Survivors include his six children: David, Arthur, Mary Louise Amundson, Barbara Jean Rodgers, Patricia Knoben, and Deb Carter Chambers; sisters, Bernice and Mary; brother, Monsignor Arthur Dernbach; nine grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Robert Raymond “Bob Sr.” Reischman ’43 CP passed away on April 22, 2012, at the home of his daughter Nancy in Scappoose, Ore. A lifelong North Portland resident, Bob attended Assumption grade school and Columbia Prep before serving in the Navy in World War II. He was a Portland firefighter for 25 years, and retired in 1980. He loved golf, salmon fishing on the Willamette River, duck hunting just about anywhere (especially with his late son, Bob Jr.), and may well have been the world’s most ardent football fan, especially when it came to Notre Dame. He and his wife Bonnie looked forward to their annual trips to Kauai until her death in 1984; he continued the trips until this year. Bob was known to enjoy the occasional libation at the Twilight Room or Portsmouth Club, both within walking distance of his home, and a more personable man you will never meet. He was a member of Holy Cross parish for over 60 years. Survivors include his son, Randy; daughters, Nancy Tousignant, Susan Rodich, and Melissa Reischman; seven grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren. His sons Bob Jr. and Ric preceded him in death. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Dorthea Drake Pennington ’44 passed away on March 3, 2012, in Tualatin, Ore. After earning her nursing degree on The Bluff she met and married Merle Pennington, a medical student, and helped him establish his medical practice in Sherwood, Ore., in 1947. Survivors include her three children, Gay Paschoal, Paul Pennington, and Jan Peterson; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Joseph Martin Bernard, Jr. ’49 CP passed away on June 18, 2012, in Wilsonville, Ore. Joe was truly a larger-than-life figure in Milwaukie, Ore., by all
accounts an extraordinary man who never put half his heart in anything he did. He took over Bernard’s Garage from his father in 1962 and soon made it clear his business was about more than just fixing cars. Over the years he mentored countless young men at the garage and through his involvement with the Boy Scouts. He served as mayor of Milwaukie from 1962 to 1964 and also served with the Providence Milwaukie Hospital Foundation, LaSalle Catholic College Preparatory School Foundation, Benedictine Sisters of Mount Angel, and many others. At the time of his death he was serving as a trustee for the Oregon Catholic Historical Society. He married Dolores Bernard in 1949 and they raised six children during their 28-year marriage. During his final week Joe celebrated his 84th birthday, father’s day, and his 20th wedding anniversary with Shirley Benson, who brought him many years of happiness. Survivors include Shirley; sons, Joseph, Edward, James, and John; daughters, Joan and Kathleen; 11 grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Prayers, please, for Allen J. Wirfs ’49 and his family on the death of his wife of 61 years, Geraldine Robb Wirfs, on June 27, 2012, in Portland, Ore. She was an elementary school teacher and was teaching in Vanport when a flood destroyed the city in 1948. She married Allen in 1951 and they raised two sons; she also worked as a librarian. Geraldine was a marvelously patient woman when it came to the endless stream of her boys’ friends as they trooped through the family home on North Wygant Street. Survivors include Allen; sons and daughters-in-law Allen and Rebecca Wirfs-Brock and John and Cindy Wirfs; and grandchildren, Erik and Jordan Wirfs-Brock and Kristin Wirfs. Our prayers and condolences to the family. William Joseph Mineau ’49 passed away on July 7, 2012, in Beaverton, Ore. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Kasper E. Weigant ’49 passed away on May 11, 2012, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was a decorated World War II veteran of the Pacific Theater. He was ordained in 1977 as the first Permanent Deacon for the Tulsa Diocese. Survivors include children Kas, Jim, and Hugh; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences. Please remember Kenneth
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One of our favorite campus couples celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary on June 14, 2012. Louis “Lou” Fortino ’47 and Theresa “Terry” Adelaide Valentini ’44 were married in 1947 at St. Agatha Church in Portland’s Sellwood neighborhood. They met at a church picnic after they both returned from serving in World War II—Lou saw action with the U.S. Navy on Iwo Jima and Okinawa, and Terry was an Army nurse at a post-MASH hospital in the Philippines. In civilian life, Terry worked for over 30 years at St. Vincent Hospital and Lou was with Allstate Insurance for 32 years. A fun-loving, service-minded couple, the Fortinos are loved and celebrated by their children, Frank, Margaret, Carol, Jeanine, and Mary; eight grandchildren; and more friends and admirers than they will ever know. Congratulations, Lou and Terry! Wortman ’50 and his family in your prayers on the loss of his wife, Helen Shaw Wortman, on May 9, 2012. Dolores Friedt ’50 passed away on June 3, 2012, in Eugene, Ore. A graduate of the University’s nursing program, she married Gregory “George” Friedt in 1950 and worked as an office nurse for Winston Maxwell for most of her career. She also taught nursing at Yakima Valley Junior College. Survivors include her husband; son, Gregory; daughter, Yvonne Miller; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. Our prayers and
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condolences to the family. John Joseph Henick ’51 passed away on April 15, 2012, at his home in Portland, Ore., at the age of 83. John was a lifelong educator, teaching in the Beaverton area for 30 years, finishing his career as coordinator for classified personnel in the Beaverton School District. Survivors include Pat; five of six children (James, Daniel, Martin, Lisa, and Jan; Christine predeceased him); and ten grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences. Phillip James Zeller, Jr. ’51 passed away on July 4, 2012, in Portland, Ore. He served in