In memoriam: John Damis, 1940-2009 John Damis, professor of political science and international studies and director of Middle East Studies, died June 10 of pancreatic cancer. Prof. Damis was born in Northeast Portland on June 16, 1940. He graduated as valedictorian at Grant High School, where he earned eight varsity letters in three sports and was named outstanding running back in the 1958 Shrine All-Star game. He was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic Hall of Fame in 2007. As a Harvard College undergraduate, Prof. Damis played football (as well as basketball and rugby) and was named to the All-Ivy League freshman football team. After graduating magna cum laude with a history B.A. in 1962, he earned an M.A. in 1964 in Middle East Studies. At Tufts University’s Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy—in a collaborative academic program with Harvard—he completed an M.A. in international relations and an M.A. in law and diplomacy in 1966, followed by a doctorate in 1970. Prof. Damis joined PSU’s Political Science Department in 1971 and launched a distinguished, productive career that featured stellar accomplishments in teaching, editing, research, and publication of numerous scholarly books and articles. In 2004, he became director of PSU’s Middle East Studies Center, where earlier he had studied the Arabic language while at home in Portland on summer vacations from Harvard. His area of expertise encompassed Morocco, North Africa, and the Western Sahara, with special emphasis on the United States’ relationship with Arab nations, which required extensive travel throughout the Middle East. From 1975 to 1984 he served the Department of State as a special foreign affairs policy analyst, and during 1993-1994 he gained global recognition for consultancy service for MINURSO, the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in North Africa. In 2000 Morocco’s King Mohammed VI decorated him with the Kingdom’s highest honors. Prof. Damis was a popular classroom teacher, and in 1994 he received the Branford Price Millar Award for faculty excellence. Under his leadership the Middle East Studies Center expanded dramatically and gained further national and international recognition as a pioneering, unique program of language and areas studies with undergraduate and graduate dimensions. Prof. Damis is survived by his spouse, Maria Wulff; by their children, Gregory and Alexa Damis Wulff; his brother, James Damis, and sister, Virginia Demos. To them our organization extends its heartfelt condolences. Maria, a PSU graduate, studied at PSU’s federally funded Center for Central European Studies at the University of Zagreb in Croatia and serves as president of the Oregon World Affairs Council. Those of us who were fortunate enough to know and work with John on shared international education interests owe him a great debt of gratitude, as does the entire University community. Extensive obituaries appeared in the Oregonian editions of June 17 and 21. A heavily attended memorial service took place at Hoffmann Hall on June 22. At a recent celebration of the Middle East Studies Center’s 50th anniversary, participants paid tribute to his significant role in developing this important academic program. Remembrances may be sent to the John Damis Middle East Scholarship Fund, PSU Foundation, P.O. Box 243, Portland OR 97207. —Victor C. Dahl, Professor Emeritus of History pus and bring us up to date on the recently completed “campus framework plan” that looks forward to the next 20 years. He is expected to touch on the University’s impact on the University District, the South Waterfront, and the city itself. Gregory has been with PSU since 1998, starting as director of computing and networking. In his current position he oversees facilities and planning, campus sustainability, information technology, housing and transportation, and campus auxiliary business units. Recently, he has been partnering with nonprofits and other universities to provide technical training and surplus computing equipment to schools and libraries in the United States, Guatemala, and Ecuador. October program . . . from page 1 Buell show on through Oct. 25 Tom and Joan Buell are presenting “Two Lifetimes,” a joint show of work, at Trinity Cathedral, NW 19th and Everett, Portland, through Sunday, Oct. 25. The show is open weekdays during business hours, on Sundays from 8 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday evenings until 7 p.m. The Buells will meet guests at the exhibit on request; call 503-292-3420.
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