C L A S S Fifty Year Club
Mitchell W. Heinemann, Jr. ’41 passed away on July 4, 2016, at the age of 98. Mitchell attended Oregon State University and the University of Portland before transferring to Reed College, from which he graduated in June 1941. He entered the University of Oregon Medical School (now Oregon Health Sciences University) in September 1941 and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree in September 1944. He served an internship at the Multnomah County Hospital and immediately thereafter entered the U.S. Armed Services. He received his honorable discharge in July 1947 with a grade of captain. He was associate pathologist at Legacy Good Samaritan Medical Center, Portland and remained there, eventually becoming director of the laboratory. He retired in 1969. Survivors include his loving wife, Elaine; children, Mitchell Heinemann III, Shirley Heinemann, Ronald Heinemann, Lamont Willson, Brad Wallingford, Debbie Wiley, Joe Heinemann and Julie Strader; and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences to the family. David Maks ’42 died on June 6, 2016, in Eugene, Ore., from heart failure, at the age of 92. Dave was a child prodigy accordionist at 9 years of age. He loved making music playing the accordion and the piano. He was attending Columbia Preparatory School, now the University of Portland, when World War II began. He joined the United States Navy and served as a second class signalman in the Pacific Theater aboard the U.S.S. Arneb. After surviving TB and malaria, he returned to Portland to attend business school and entered the Veterans Administration as a stenographer; he would work there for the next 43 years. He took great pride in assisting veterans and their families from all walks of life. Dave was preceded in death by his parents, brother Stephen, sister Marlene, three wives (Carma, Jacqueline, and Rebecca) and his son, Joseph. He is survived by children, Kathleen (Mike), Stephen (Claudia), Suzanne, David (Mercedes), Christin, and Shannon (Honor). He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren and 8 loving nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, donations to Catholic Charities would be appreciated. Our prayers and condolences to the family.
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Walter Niebuhr ’50 passed away on April 21 2016, at Samaritan Evergreen Hospice House with his family by his side. He attended all Catholic schools in Portland, and went into the Navy immediately after graduating from Central Catholic High School in 1945. He served in World War II in the Philippine islands as a brig guard for the 3rd Fleet. He was
N O T E S Mines as a research physicist for 30 years, retiring in 1986. Elaine preceded him in death in 2000; survivors include his daughter Judi and her husband Ron. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Benjamin Edward Tabler ’51 passed away on Saturday, June 19, 2016 in Clackamas, Ore. He was born on July 17, 1929, in Portland, Ore., to Stephen and
A follow up to our notice on the death of legendary Portland drummer Chic Colburn ’66: “My aunt Roberta said you were interested in a picture of my dad for your alumni magazine,” writes Emily Baginski, Chic’s daughter. “This is his high school graduation picture, taken in 1962, the same year he attended UP. We really appreciate your remembering Dad in your magazine.” Thank you, Emily, for gracing our magazine with a photo that captures a lot about your Pop. Our prayers for your loss. fond of saying that he did nine months in the brig during the war. When he returned from the Navy, Walt enrolled at UP under the G.I. Bill, and graduated with a degree in physics and math. Shortly after graduating from college he met Elaine Schnell, and they were married in 1957. Daughter Judi appeared in Albany in 1958. Walt worked at the Bureau of
Catherine Tabler. Benjamin is survived by his loving family. Our prayers and condolences. Mary Brady Sengstake ’52 died on November 22, 2015, after a short battle with cancer. Her long career was both remarkable and simple: she had a true gift for nursing. Mary offered skill, amazing medical intuition, deep compassion, empathy, and caring to pa-
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tients, families, and colleagues alike. She worked as a private duty nurse and with St. Vincent Hospital before landing at her career home with the Veterans Administration Hospital of Portland. At the VA, she cared for men and women who served their country and who now needed her most. Single motherhood brought struggles and challenges, but Mary built a home of love and strong family bonds which continue today. Over her eighty-five years, Mary lived a life of service to her children, to her patients and their families, to her friends, and to her community. Survivors include brother, Robert; children, Seana Sengstake Stong (Jeff), Pollie Sengstake, and Cord Dana Sengstake (Katie); and grandchildren, Julia, Joseph, Quinn, Sophie, and Freddy. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Portland Rescue Mission (portlandrescuemission.org). Our prayers and condolences to the family. We heard recently from Frank Reichert ’52, who writes: “Henry Pfenning, engineering class of 1952, passed away on May 16, 2016. After graduation he worked for Lockheed for over 30 years, mostly in what is known as the Skunk Works, where he participated in the design of many top secret and highly successful aircraft for the U.S. military.” Thank you for letting us know, Frank, and our prayers and condolences for the loss of your friend. Henry Pfenning passed away peacefully at home, surrounded and comforted by his family, on May 16, 2016. He lived to the respectable age of 85. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, and being in the company of his family and friends. He was very involved in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives, as well as being very active in the church. Survivors include his loving wife of 62 years, Alice Jean Pfenning (nee Reichert), with whom he shared the deepest of love. He was a caring father of seven children: Henry, Mary, Ann, Karen, Robert, James, and David; he had18 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Our prayers and condolences to the family. Wayne Olmscheid ’53 passed away on June 4, 2016, in Astoria, Ore. Wayne served in the United States Marine Corps during the final years of World War II, then worked for Fred Myer for a number of years, becoming a store manager. In September of 1954, Wayne commenced what became a 33-year career in education.