In Memoriam

Marlis Raye Miller

Dec. 9, 1952-April 18, 2022

Marlis Raye Miller passed away unexpectedly April 18. Marlis was born Dec. 9, 1952, in Billings, Montana, to Richard and Edith Miller (Orso). She graduated from Billings West High School in 1972 and Eastern Montana College in 1978. After graduating, she helped with the startup of KOA (Kampgrounds of America) before leaving to teach English at Northern Montana College. While at a college basketball game, she (as a former gymnast) happened to mention some suggestions about the cheerleading program to the college president, who subsequently made her the coach for the years she remained at the college. That same college president later called her into his office, handed her sabbatical papers, and told her to go to Oregon State University to continue her higher education.

Marlis graduated from OSU with a master’s degree in education in 1987. She participated in SDS (Student Development Seminar), developing future college leaders, and was executive director of OSU’s Women’s Center. Marlis met her husband, Dennis Thompson, at OSU in 1985, and they were married in 1988. Along the way, Marlis was appointed by Governor Barbara Roberts and reappointed by Governor Kitzhaber as executive director of AmeriCorps of Oregon and worked several years with Campfire Girls of Oregon.

Marlis then spent more than 10 years with the Organizational Development Department of Legacy Health, where she helped many departments and individuals to be their best at patient care and being team players. After retiring from Legacy Health, Marlis threw herself into volunteering at MAC, ultimately serving on the Board of Trustees as vice president.

Marlis will be deeply missed by her husband of 33 years, Dennis; her brother, Ken, of Missoula, Montana; her mother-inlaw, Pat Thompson, of Prineville, Oregon; nieces and nephews; three Bengal cats, Greta, Hettie, and Iggy; and the Green family and all the godchildren people instinctively knew to entrust to Marlis’ care and guidance.

A Celebration of Life was held in May at the Multnomah Athletic Club. In lieu of flowers, consider a charitable contribution in her name: Marlis Miller 17517 N.W. Sauvie Island Rd., Portland, OR 97231 or channelhouse88@gmail.com to either of the following: Planned Parenthood or the Oregon State Foundation.

Marilyn Grunbaum

May 10, 1941-May 4, 2022

Marilyn Grunbaum, a beloved member of the MAC community for nearly 60 years, passed peacefully in her sleep in early May. Marilyn was surrounded by family at the time, and all can be heartened knowing that she lived a rich, long, and love-filled life – full of grace and on her own terms.

Marilyn was born and raised in Los Angeles, and attended college at UCLA, where she was a member of Sigma Delta Tau. Following graduation in 1963, she made a fateful decision to spend the summer with her recently married sister, Barbara, and brotherin-law in Portland. As the story goes, the striking young Californian was spied poolside at Barbara’s apartment by friends of an eligible bachelor named Hans, the local match-making network kicked in, and the two were introduced. That fall, they married.

In their 55 years of marriage, Marilyn and Hans built a beautiful life together on their rural property on Sherwood’s Chehalem Mountain, in the “Northwest Regional” modern home that they commissioned for their young family. They raised two sons there. The youngest, Michael, was tragically lost at the age of nine to a drunk driver, but left many unforgettable memories in his short life. Eric, who lives in California, not far from where Marilyn grew up, enjoyed an especially close friendship with both Marilyn and Hans throughout their lives together. In the late 1980s, Marilyn and Hans planted an expansive vineyard of Pinot noir and Pinot gris on the property; they named it “Arbre Vert,” the French translation of their surname.

While Marilyn’s beauty — with her short silver hair — was hard to miss, her inner beauty was what most defined her. She was a sensitive and artistic soul who loved painting, cooking, the Portland Symphony Orchestra, the Oregon Ballet Theatre, and her animals — particularly her Himalayan cats and shortlegged dogs. At the same time, she also possessed a quiet strength that fiercely held the family together after the heart-breaking loss of Michael. Her affection for beautiful, fast cars – and intolerance of traffic and red lights – sat somewhere in between those qualities; as did her extensive travels, which included annual trips with Hans to the steep slopes of Sun Valley and the serene beaches of Zihuatanejo. For more than 40 years, Marilyn was active socially and physically at the MAC, a habit that paired well with her fondness for dark chocolate; the fitness room was her favorite “stomping ground” at the club. Or, it could be said, it was her favorite “weight-lifting/stair-climbing/bicycling/rowing ground.” A model mother both figuratively and literally, Marilyn also enjoyed a successful modeling career, appearing in catalogues, runway shows, and prints ads, including some for Nike. Eric credits this for his introduction to, and subsequent long career in, advertising. Alas, not every Grunbaum has what it takes to be in front of the camera.

The arts and animals were at the center of Marilyn’s heart, and she generously supported Oregon Ballet Theatre, Guide Dogs for the Blind, and other Portland-area non-profits. She, and her corgis, found particular gratification through volunteer work with OHSU’s Doernbecher Children’s Hospital animal therapy program.

Marilyn is survived by Eric (Eliah Perona) and siblings Barbara (Lew) Brown, Janet (Ron) Henson, and Richard (Maida) Klein.

The family held a small, private service on May 9 at Beth Israel Cemetery, where Marilyn rests alongside Michael, and in the company of Hans. Donations in her memory can be made to Guide Dogs for the Blind, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and MADD.