ADMINISTRATIVE
In Memoriam Richard “Bill” Babson March 11, 1920-March 16, 2013 Senior preferred member Richard William “Bill” Babson died on March 16, shortly following his 93d birthday. A musician, artist, athlete, businessman and lifelong Portland resident, Bill was the youngest of four brothers in a family where music was the cornerstone. Billy studied piano and violin at an early age, often accompanied by his mother, an accomplished alto and pianist. When his violin was placed under lock and key following a violin bow dueling incident between Billy and his brother Stephen, Billy’s focus became the piano. What he lacked in practice discipline was more than offset by a superior sight-reading ability and a broad repertoire, from Bach to Brubeck. In his mid-30s, Bill adopted the cello as his preferred instrument, and ultimately became a member of the Oregon Symphony orchestra and the founder of several Portland area chamber music groups. There was seldom an evening in the Babson home when live music could not be heard, and Bill introduced his children to the then Portland Symphony through special appearances by the great ones, Menuhin, Rostropovich, Segovia and Stern. An indifferent student in his early years, and a lefty who never surrendered to misguided efforts to make him use his right hand, Billy gravitated not only to music, but also to sports, where his superb coordination and competitiveness found reward. He set a school long jump record, and as a baseball pitcher could throw a slow, looping curve ball that would turn a batter inside out. But his true gift was in racquet sports, where he was a badminton champion and later a top ranked tennis player in the Pacific Northwest in both men’s singles and doubles. In his early 20s Bill took an interest in the game of squash and learned it on his own, later winning the Oregon state championship and other tournaments on the West Coast. The crowning event for Bill and MAC was a team of Pacific Northwest players winning the national team championship in Philadelphia over highly favored teams from the East Coast. From 1960 until its sale in 1977, Bill was the President and CEO and an owner of Peerless Pacific Co., a Portland-based business founded by his father in 1913 and a wholesaler of heating, refrigeration, industrial, water works and plumbing supplies. During Bill’s tenure, the company more than tripled in size, moving from a single
Scott Spencer Hinsdale location in Portland, to offices, warehouses and yards in Eugene, Medford, Bend, TriCities, Tacoma and Seattle. Bill met his wife, Jean McCall, sister of former Oregon Governor Tom McCall, while both were students at Reed College. Following the United States entry into World War II, Bill was stationed first in Nome, Ala., then served in General Patton’s Third Army in its campaigns in Normandy, the Battle of the Bulge, and the occupation of Germany. Following his discharge, Bill and Jean were married in 1947, with Jean later becoming a trustee of Reed College and a recognized national advocate for child welfare. A competitive tennis player into his late 80s, Bill also painted in water colors and sculpted, in addition to continued practice on both the piano and cello, and the constant entertainment of children and grandchildren with his great sense of humor and high energy. An artist first and right-brained thinker, Bill was creative and original in his views on most subjects. He valued the individual over the group, celebrated rebellious behavior and non-conformity, and carried a lifelong mistrust of “groupthink,” whether he saw it in corporations, labor unions, government or the military. Bill is survived by his son, Stephen Babson and daughter-in-law Melissa Babson; and by his daughter Ann Kauffman and her husband Tom Kauffman. He leaves four grandchildren, Christopher Worth Babson, Stephen Smith Babson, Katherine Ann Kauffman and Thomas Matthew Kauffman. He will remain their beloved “Grampsie” always. Preceding Bill in death were his wife Jean and daughter Jeannie. The family extends its appreciation to Lucy and Vio Zahan, who cared so lovingly for Bill during the last hard miles of his life. The family also asks that remembrances in Bill’s name be directed to Reed College or to the Oregon Symphony Association.
Cynthia Black Aug. 20, 1952-Sept. 13, 2013 Senior member Cynthia Black died Sept. 13 in Honolulu. She was 61. Cynthia was born Aug. 20, 1952 in Honolulu and was president of Beyond Words Publishing. She is survived by her mother, Constance Black; sister, Evie Black; brother, Thomas Black; and companion, Glenn Nutt.
Jan. 14, 1932-Sept. 3, 2013 Senior family preferred member Scott Spencer Hinsdale died Sept. 3. He was 81. Scott was born in Portland, a fifth-generation Oregonian, great-grandson of Harvey Scott (longtime editor of The Oregonian in the 1800s) and great-grandnephew of Abigail Scott Duniway (suffragette who led the campaign to secure the vote for women in Oregon). He attended Chapman and Sylvan schools, was a graduate of Pomfret Prep School in Connecticut, and received his engineering degree from the University of Portland after serving in the U.S. Navy. He served as president of the family business, Galvanizers Company, for many years. Scott was an avid scuba diver and traveled the world to such places as Borneo, New Guinea, Indonesia, the Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef and Costa Rica, to name a few. In addition, he and Mary cruised and traveled to many other parts of the world, finally settling in Rancho Mirage for the winter months. Another favorite activity was clamming on the beach near their summer home in Gearhart. Scott also had a lifelong interest in the sport of rowing. He was a 60-year member of MAC, the Rotary Club of Portland and former long-term member of the University Club of Portland. Although Scott liked to keep a low profile, he was extremely generous and lent his helping hand to many people. Scott is predeceased by his parents, G. Spencer Hinsdale of Gardiner, Ore., entrepreneur in lumber, mining and finance, and Frances Scott Hinsdale; younger sister, Holly; and former wife, Dolly Scibor. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Mary Vranizan Gorman; daughters, Elisa Williams (Dan) and Elizabeth Neish (Michael); grandchildren, Eleanor and Emily Williams, Spencer Neish and Katie Neish Evans; sister, Hester Nau (Paul, deceased); and stepchildren, Mark Gorman and Allyn Cass, and their families. He was thrilled to meet his first great-grandchild, Logan Evans, this past year, and to be able to attend Spencer’s wedding in July. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to a favorite charity.
Lynn Claudia Houser May 10, 1941-Sept. 5, 2013 Senior family preferred member Lynn Claudia Houser died Sept. 5 as a result of complications from cancer. She was 72. Lynn faced and endured her ordeal with bravery, enabled by God’s peace. Continued on page 18
November 2013
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