From 401Ks to piggybanks, there are myriad tools to help you finance your retirement, but precious few to help you decide how to live during your retirement. Joy Spalding, one of six speakers during RAPS’ fourth 2007-08 Speakers Series, “Housing Options as We Age,” on March 20, emphasized the importance of planning your living arrangements as carefully as your finances. “Most people make decisions about their finances as they get older, but they don’t think how they’re going to live as they get older,” said Spalding, who retired from the Graduate School of Social Work. “They may not get to make their own decisions because of that—they’ll be made for them.” Sally Jacobsen: Cool and dry in Northwest Jacobsen found Portland to be a “just right” solution. She lived in Portland—and taught English at Portland State—during the ’70s, before teaching for the past 27 years at the University of Northern Kentucky. The high humidity of Kentucky, however, made it a poor choice for retirement. Yet the dry heat of New Mexico, where her daughter lives, didn’t agree with her, either. Sunnyvale, Calif., where her son lives, had a great climate, but the cost of living was out of sight. And so back to Portland, where Jacobsen bought a condo in Northwest. “I have the streetcar and three different bus lines within a block’s distance,” she said, “so I almost never use my car.” Vic Dahl: Stayin’ put A professor emeritus of history, Dahl lives in the same Lake Oswego house he and his wife, Beryl, bought in 1966. “My retirement strategy is to stay where I am as long as I can, because I like it there,” Dahl told the nearly 60 RAPS members who packed 333 Smith Union. He recalled that his grandfathers were blacksmiths who lived and worked at home. “It was perfectly natural that that’s where you stayed. You took care of your kids and animals, and when you got old and infirm, the kids and animals took care of you. A good system, I think.” Dahl cautioned against falling into the “Peter Pan” trap—living in a Retirement Association of Portland State Portland State University Post Office Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 Simon Benson House 1803 SW Park Avenue Campus mail: RAPS Web: www.raps.pdx.edu Office hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Officers Robert Tufts President Marjorie Terdal President-elect / Program Chair Bruce Stern Past President / Membership Chair Robert Vogelsang Treasurer / Regional Retirement Association Ad Hoc Committee Chair Larry Sawyer Secretary Doug Swanson Editor Robert Pearson Webmaster Board Members-at-Large Roger Moseley Jan DeCarrico Charlene Levesque Committees Alumni Association Pat Squire Awards Committee Chair / Pictorial History Book Committee Chair Mary Brannan History Preservation Committee Chair Steve Brannan Membership Committee Chair Bruce Stern Social/Friendship Committee Co-Chairs Beryl and Vic Dahl Office Manager Amy Valdez 503-725-3447 / raps@pdx.edu continued on page 6 THE RAPSSHEET APRIL 2008 Next up: President’s Luncheon Thursday, April 17 University Place 310 SW Lincoln Street PREVIEW STORY ON PAGE 2 Housing options forum: Make your choice now—before somebody makes it for you
— 2 — Reardon speaks to RAPS at April 17 President’s Luncheon Marge Terdal, program chair and president-elect, has brought us a varied and stimulating schedule of programs. March’s annual Potluck program had 58 participants. I look forward to the remaining events, our annual President’s Luncheon and RAPS Awards with Interim President Michael Reardon, and May’s ice cream social. Our search for an alternate, suitable location for our operation and office manager eventually bore fruit from a conversation between Charlene Levesque, member-at-large, and Marvin Kaiser, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Here, I simply wish to acknowledge Charlene’s role, her extensive activities and contacts in the University community, and her dedication and perseverance. We have enjoyed an exciting year with the Vikings athletic program, capped by the men’s basketball team’s appearance in the NCAA Tournament. When I arrived at Portland State, basketball was on NCAA probation and mired in the wrong kind of publicity. It was great to see our dedicated team and program elevated to this historic level of success and recognition—and PSU’s positive publicity in national media. Good job, Vikings! As we go to press, we have a slate of finalists for university president. Charlie White has been an active member of the search committee. RAP’s Steve Brannan is currently on the archivist search committee. A number of your board members are active in securing and preserving PSU’s history. Humor on campus: The traffic sign at SW Mill and Broadway, as the Portland Streetcar enters campus, reads “Left turn only, except trains.” The ADA-inspired elevator in Parking Structure 3 beeps on each floor so the blind can exit at the proper level for their car. Humor is life, often in small observations. —Bob Tufts President’s Message Mark your calendars April 17, noon President’s Luncheon University Place, Columbia Falls Ballroom May 15, 1:00 p.m. Ice Cream Social Michael Munk, “Portland’s Radical Past” University Place, Astoria Room Invitations will soon be in the mail for the annual President’s Luncheon for Portland State retired faculty and staff and their guests. The luncheon will be Thursday, April 17, noon to 1:30, in the Columbia Falls Ballroom at University Place, 310 SW Lincoln Street. After lunch RAPS President Bob Tufts will welcome new board members for 2008-2009 and introduce Interim President Michael Reardon, the main speaker. The program will include an update on what is happening at PSU, including information about the presidential search. We will learn about progress on the newest PSU building, the Student Academic/Recreation Center, under construction on SW 6th Avenue. RAPS awards for outstanding faculty and staff will be presented by Mary Gordon-Brannan, Awards Committee chair. Come and enjoy this opportunity to socialize with your friends and colleagues and meet other retirees. If you did not receive an invitation, please contact the Get PSU’s campus newsletter delivered to your computer As a member of RAPS, you are entitled to receive an electronic copy of Portland State’s weekly campus newsletter, Currently. If you are not receiving Currently and would like to, send your e-mail address to the RAPS office manager, Amy Valdez, at raps@pdx.edu. Be sure to mention that you’d like your address added to the Currently distribution list.
The Singing Revolution tells the moving story of how the Estonian people peacefully regained their freedom and helped topple the Soviet empire—by singing. The film will be shown at Portland’s Hollywood Theater, April 4-10. RAPS member Tom Palm, professor emeritus of economics, was deeply involved in the events the film depicts. Palm came to the United States as an 11-yearold refugee from post-World War II Europe (his “real name” is Toomas). Decades later, as a professional economist still speaking the Estonian language, he was in demand as a lecturer on market economics. Palm was advising the prime minister of the freedom-minded government when Estonian independence was restored in 1991. Later he worked with the universities to retrain their economics and business faculty on market economics, and he was one of the founders of the School of Social Sciences at the venerable University of Tartu. He was granted an honorary doctorate by Tallinn Technical University in 1992. Independent Estonia has flourished as one of the fastest growing economies in the world. How independence was peacefully restored to the Soviet occupied country is an extraordinary story. Estonians had lived on their land for thousands of years before the crusades began a series of occupations. An independent Estonian state was finally established in 1918, but then, in 1939-1940, a brutal invasion and occupation by the Soviet Union decimated the country. When Hitler attacked his erstwhile ally, Estonia suffered a brief Nazi occupation. Then the Soviets reoccupied the country and stayed for the next 50 years. As World War II wound down, the Palms escaped to the West, along with some 70,000 other Estonians. Those who stayed suffered summary executions, deportations, and deprivation. Over the following decades, it was Soviet policy to Tom Palm Film documents a most unusual revolution: Estonia, 1987-91 import hundreds of thousands of Russian speakers to control and dilute the native population. Today, ethnic Estonians are still only about two-thirds of the total population, but they are still singing. Most people don’t think about singing when they think about revolutions. But song was the weapon of choice when Estonians sought to free themselves. Hundreds of thousands Estonians, mostly younger people, spontaneously gathered in public to sing forbidden patriotic songs and to rally for independence. This is the story told in The Singing Revolution. The Portland Estonian folk dancers, the largest such troupe in North America, will do a half-hour show before the 7 p.m. screening on Friday, April 4, and before the Sunday 3 p.m. matinee, April 6. Go at least half an hour early—you’ll enjoy the folk costumes and varied, authentic dancing. On Friday evening, the co-producer and author of the film, Jim Tusty, will be on hand to introduce his work and to answer your questions. The home page for the film is www.singingrevolution.com. The Web site includes the trailer, the press kit, and access to reviews fromThe New York Times, Variety, and The Hollywood Reporter. The Hollywood Theater also has information about the film and the option to buy tickets on line at https://robot.boxofficetickets.com. Freedom demonstrations in Estonia, like this one in 1987, blossomed into one of the most unusual revolutions in history. Photo courtesy The Singing Revolution — 3 —
— 4 — In memoriam: Robert C. Tuttle, 1923-2008 Robert C. Tuttle, professor emeritus of English and RAPS life-member, was born in Portland, Nov. 12, 1923, and died at his home on March 7, 2008. On March 22 friends and acquaintances honored him at the family residence with a gathering to celebrate his life. After naval service during World War II, Professor Tuttle enrolled at the University of Washington, where he earned a baccalaureate degree in English (1949). He then continued with graduate studies in American literature and held a year-long English department teaching fellowship at that institution. In 1965 he completed Ph.D. requirements. Professor Tuttle launched his academic career with appointments as an instructor in English at Central Washington State (1951-53), and at the Oregon State System’s Bend Extension Center (1953-55). In l955 he joined the newly formed Portland State College Humanities Division and retired as an emeritus professor of English in 1990. As a pioneering PSU faculty member, Professor Tuttle actively contributed to setting the fledgling institution’s curricular groundwork for what then was its largest teaching department, while it evolved concurrently from providing mostly lower division course work to offering upper division and graduate programs. Over the years he served on a wide range of significant department and University-wide governance and policy-making groups, including Committees for Curriculum, Effective Teaching, Educational Policies, Intercollegiate Athletics, Publications, and the Graduate Council. He participated in several search committees, and was elected to the President’s Advisory Council and the Faculty Senate. Colleagues throughout the University regularly relied upon his experience and leadership in devising solutions supporting the new institution’s overall growth and development. For a planning conference in 1968 he prepared an insightful, useful statement delineating traditional general education assumptions. During the infamous Park Blocks protests in May 1970, he joined other senior faculty members in forming an “Ad Hoc Group for Campus Safety” that defused student demonstrators’ confrontations with police and University authorities and which significantly contributed to reducing violence levels during a troubled episode in PSU’s history. Throughout his teaching career and continuing into retirement, Professor Tuttle actively participated in scholarly activities, many of which afforded a community outreach stemming from longtime interests in Pacific Northwest history and literature. He contributed to the Oregon English Journal and the Oregon Historical Quarterly, served on the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, and was a member of the board of directors for the Oregon Historical Society. During his tenure he supported the English Department and its students in various capacities, notably as assistant department head and as undergraduate advising coordinator, and directed many advanced degree examinations. Colleagues highly esteemed his professionalism and instructional endeavors that consistently attracted large enrollments at all levels. Throughout the University Professor Tuttle enjoyed a well-regarded reputation for reliability and willingness to provide valuable service. We all owe him a debt of gratitude for his valuable contributions to this institution through a crucial epoch of its development. Our organization sends its heartfelt condolences to his surviving spouse, Dez Roberts, daughters Karen Anicker and Robin Semas; son, Mark Tuttle; and, stepdaughters Lynn Rossing, Jan Levine, and Jill Endicott. Memorial contributions may be made to the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission, P.O. Box 3588, Portland OR 97208. —Victor C. Dahl, Professor Emeritus of History
Book Club: Sex in the post-Civil War city The Book Club will next meet on April 15 at the home of Betsy Brown, 1500 NE 15th, in Portland, near Lloyd Center. Call her at 503-493-4870. We will discuss Sex Wars, written by Marge Piercy. It is historical fiction described on the jacket: Post-Civil War New York City was the battleground of the American dream: an era of vast fortunes and crushing poverty; a time notorious for free love and the emerging rights of women, yet one that saw the rise of brutal sexual repression and the enforcement of prejudice. Though life was hard, the promise of change was in the air. Women were agitating for civil rights, including the vote. Immigrants were pouring into the city, bringing with them a new energy. Embodying the times is Freydeh, a spirited young Jewish woman from Russia . . . She learns that her younger sister is adrift somewhere in the city and begins a search that carries her through brothels and prison. Interwoven with Freydeh’s story is a vividly wrought account of such real-life heroines—often at odds with the law as well as societal customs—as Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Susan B. Anthony, and Victoria Woodhull, the first woman to run for president and an activist for sexual freedom. Depicted as well is the fundamentalist crusader Anthony Comstock, who fought to eliminate sexual expression, pushing for the passage of laws that still haunt our legal system. In the tradition of her World War II epic Gone to Soldiers, Marge Piercy re-creates a turbulent period in American history witnessed through the lives of its most notorious figures and explores the changing attitudes toward women, minorities, religion, and sexuality in 19th century America, a land of sacrifice, suffering, promise, and reward. Come join us in what promises to be a lively discussion. For March we read Loving Frank, a first novel by Nancy Horan. It is historical fiction about the love affair between Frank Lloyd Wright and Mamah Borthwick Cheney, written from the perspective of Mamah, who was conflicted between the roles of wife, mother, and lover. A major theme was self-determination by women during the early 1900s, which elicited much discussion by our group. —Mary Brannan — 5 — RAPS club reports PAST TENSE President’s Fitness Council taps Mike Tichy In 1956 President Dwight Eisenhower appointed the first members of the newly created President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. During President Gerald Ford’s administration, the council appointed Michael Tichy, professor of health and physical education at Portland State University, to serve as a special consultant to the board—the first such appointment of an Oregonian. In October 1975 the council awarded Tichy a commendation “for outstanding contributions to its programs and services, to the health and physical fitness of the American people and to the quality of our life and vigor of our society.” Tichy continued to promote the health and well being of Oregonians and to serve as a special consultant to the council until his retirement from Portland State University in June 1992. Past Tense features glimpses into Portland State’s history. To submit a story (or an idea for one), email the RAPS History Preservation Committee at raps@pdx.edu. Hikers: Lacamas Lake Park We hike on the the fourth Friday of the month, and our April 25 hike will be in Lacamas Lake Park near Camas, Wash. There should be some camas in bloom. We will meet at 9:30 a.m. at the small parking lot just south of the bridge between Lacamas Lake and Round Lake. There are several trails in the park, but Nature Walks In & Around Portland recommends a loop that is three miles long. Please confirm to me by Thursday, April 24. Although this is a local hike, it is approaching a distance that makes carpooling worthwhile. If you wish to save gas, let me know, and I will find a carpool for you. Contact me at larry_sawyer@comcast.net or my cell, 503-771-1616. If you are into more strenuous hikes, the Friends of the Columbia Gorge-sponsored spring hikes are out and go through June 22. You can view the schedule at www.gorgefriends.org. —Larry Sawyer Bridge Group: April 8 at Willamette View The next Bridge Group meeting will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Willamette View. If you have questions about the group or would like to play, please call or e-mail me no later than Friday, April 4, at 503-2920838 or colinkeld@gmail.com. —Colin Dunkeld
Housing options forum . . . continued from page 1 house built for 30-somethings. “Look at your stairs, and make sure there are railings on both sides,” he said. His other suggestions: hand grips in the bathrooms, lever-style doorknobs, and doors that can accommodate walkers and wheelchairs. Prue Douglas: Stimulated at Terwilliger Plaza Douglas, who retired from the Center for English as a Second Language, first moved to the Oregon Coast before returning to Portland to live at Terwilliger Plaza, a continuing care retirement community near Duniway Park. “Living at Terwilliger Plaza has been an adventure for me,” Douglas said. She praised the intellectual stimulation, the maintenance staff, the chef, the library, and the van that takes residents to church, symphony, or “anywhere else we want to go.” But none of those features persuaded her to live at Terwilliger Plaza. “I choose it because I’ve developed the most wonderful friendships,” Douglas explained. “It’s the way we live everyday—I’m stimulated. People who live there are not playing bingo. I’m living with a group of intelligent people who have done the most intelligent things with their lives—and they’re fun to be with.” LaRay Barna: Reversing roles and loving it Barna lives in an apartment in her daughter’s house. “You have to be sure you’re very convivial,” explained Barna, who taught speech communication at Portland State. “That’s a basic requirement.” Another requirement is that the apartment must be your own, with a separate entrance, so you feel autonomous. “One of the real pluses is that there are young people close at hand,” Barna said. “My granddaughter is upstairs most of the time when she’s not at the University of Oregon, and her friends come over and there are things going on. It makes you feel that there is life out there—we’re not just these old folks stuck down here in the basement.” Role reversal is probably the biggest adjustment. “My husband and I were in charge all those years, and now, suddenly, we find them telling us what to do—‘Mom, you’re using the wrong product on those hardwood floors!’ But in many ways, it’s a good thing because many times I’m really glad to call up and ask for help.” Have the kids imposed a curfew? “If we’re not home by when they think we ought to be there, we hear about it,” she said, laughing. “And that’s a good feeling, to know that somebody’s worrying about you.” Charlene Levesque: An apartment ‘on the edge’ Levesque, who retired from Campus Events and Scheduling, told the audience that since she can’t afford a house or a condo, she has lived in apartments since her divorce 22 years ago. She’s been priced out of the University District; her old apartment in the Ione is now renting for $1,100 per month. “That’s the way rents are in the University District now—it’s just not affordable for the average person.” She now lives in Station Place Tower, which is, she is careful to explain, “on the edge of the Pearl.” (“I make that specific because I’m embarrassed to say I live in the Pearl. It’s so trendy!”) Station Place rents are fixed and increases are tied to Social Security increases. The building is only three years old, green, and features exercise, computer, and community rooms. Cooking classes are taught several times a year, and a van takes residents to Fred Meyer twice a month. “The van is really nice,” said Levesque, who noted that it’s easier to get to the store empty handed than it is to get back carrying a pile of packages. Station Place has its downsides. There are “lots and lots” of rules. “It’s like being in a dormitory,” she said. “But all in all, it’s great,” said Levesque. “I can call someone to change the light bulb. But having been married to a man who was always traveling, my motto is, ‘What does a woman do alone? Everything, honey.’”
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