Old Oregon
CLASS NOTES
A Grammar of Miya and
Navy corpsman in the
A Dictionary of Ngizim to
Philippines, and was a
help readers understand
member of the Oregon
BERNICE ELLEN
Chadic languages.
Army National Guard’s
FISHER, ’BEd 71, MS ’95,
41st Infantry Brigade. He
died on November 5 at
was a loyal Ducks fan.
the age of 77. She enjoyed
GEORGE THOMAS AMERSON, MS ’66, DEd
Jersey, and New York.
sewing, knitting, crochet-
’70, died on November 15.
JON ERICKSON, BA ’71,
ing, and needle art, and
He was a World War II
MCRP ’78, died October
owned Bern’s Needle Art
veteran of the US Navy.
16. He was a sitting mem-
in Cottage Grove. She also
He had a wide range of
ber of the Highland Park
worked as a teacher at
hobbies including singing
Borough Council, a mem-
Yoncalla and Drain grade
with the Riverblenders
ber of the Kean Federation
schools, and was a mem-
Barbershop Quartet, serv-
of Teachers, and a commu-
ber of the Dorena Grange
ing as an amateur radio
nity advocate and activist.
and the Cottage Grove
operator, and gardening.
He also worked as an
Genealogical Society.
associate professor at Kean DALE A. MCWILLIAM,
University in New Jersey,
ROBERT BURDMAN,
BS ’67, MS ’70, died
and held multiple teaching
MA ’72, PhD ’74, died
at his home in West
and research positions
May 31, 2016 in Prescott,
Linn. He served as a
in Oregon, Texas, New
Arizona, at age 77. RICHARD MITCHELL ,
PhD ’72, died on September 21. During his career, he was a teacher,
IN MEMORIAM
Kenneth Snelson
Kenneth Snelson, a UO student in the 1940s, died December 22 at age 89. Born in Pendleton, Snelson studied drawing, design, and engineering at the UO. His early sculptures drew the attention and support of Buckminster Fuller, who coined the term “tensegrity” to describe his and Snelson’s work, which combined tension and structural integrity. Snelson produced more than 40 large-scale sculptures in 20 states and in Japan, Germany, and the Netherlands. Snelson held five US patents and had more than 25 one-man shows in galleries around the world. A free e-book of his work is available at kennethsnelson.net.
a principal, the director of the Northwest Area for
a graduate from the USAF
Indiana. He was a car-rac-
husband of 41 years, started
United Cerebral Palsy,
Fighter Weapons School
ing enthusiast and loved
a vacation rental manage-
and a supervisor of the
and Squadron Officer
to cook. He also enjoyed
ment company in Sunriver,
Portland Tri-County Area
School. He enjoyed skiing,
watching the Pacers and
Oregon. Her sense of humor
School Districts for dis-
golfing, and spending time
the Colts.
and compassion will be
abled children.
with his nieces.
missed by many. GARY R. WILSON died
F L A S H BAC K
2007
For two weeks, a seemingly endless expanse of red and white flags stretched across campus fluttering in the breeze, a memorial to the war dead in Iraq. The flags stood out starkly against the UOs green grass and red bricks. At the time of this installation, primarily sponsored by the UO Survival Center, 77 Oregonian soldiers had died in the conflict. Approximately 150 veterans of the war are now enrolled at the UO. 64
O R E G O N Q U A R T E R LY
|
SPRING 2017
PAMELA LOUISE
SALLY DONOVAN,
on November 7 at the age
TOSHIHIKO MURATA,
GREENE , BA ’77, MA ’78,
MS ’87, died November
of 61. He attended the UO
PhD ’01, died October 12.
died on October 7. She
19. She was a cultural
as a member of Sigma Chi
He served as associate vice
worked on Capitol Hill
resource specialist
fraternity and the cheer
president of institutional
in Washington, DC, and
and photographer, and
squad. He worked for many
effectiveness at Blue
later moved to Salt Lake
was the recipient of the
years in sales and market-
Mountain Community
City, where she worked as
2016 Oregon Heritage
ing in Portland, Oregon,
College and, later, research
a speech pathologist for
Excellence Award and
and Phoenix, Arizona. He
analyst and adult basic
the Davis School District
the 2016 George McMath
was also an enthusiastic
education accountability
until she retired in 2015.
Historic Preservation
weightlifter and enjoyed
coordinator for the Oregon
She had many hobbies that
Award. She volunteered at
many different outdoor
Department of Community
brought her joy, including
a nonprofit cat rescue and
activities, including snow-
Colleges and Workforce
sewing, 4-H, waterskiing,
was married to her hus-
and waterskiing.
Development. In 1983, he
backpacking, and working
band, Bruce, for 22 years.
published a book docuMARY MARGARET
menting his 7,000-kilo-
GREGORY “GREG” K.
“PENNY” WALLIS
meter World Peace March
CRAIG GIBSON, MBA
HEBEL , MArch ’90, died
BENNINGTON, MBA
journey from Venice Beach,
’78, died on November 14.
on November 13. He was a
’95, died October 17 at age
California, to New York.
He was an F-4 fighter pilot
master craftsman at wood-
70. After working in the
He also had a wide range
as well as a UPS 757-767
working and worked as an
medical field for many
of hobbies including art,
cargo pilot. Craig was also
architect for the State of
years, Penny and Gene, her
poetry, and horticulture.
in the LDS church.