THE RAPS SHEET April 2017 Retirement Association of Portland State Portland State University Post Office Box 751--RAPS Portland OR 97207-0751 Campus Public Safety Building, second floor, SW Montgomery at Broadway Office Manager Adam Jones (503)725-3447, rapsmail@pdx.edu Office Hours: Weds., 4-6; Thurs. & Fri., 9-3. Campus mail: RAPS Web: www.pdx.edu/raps Officers Susan Poulsen Co-President Dawn White Co-President Brian Lewis Secretary Ansel Johnson Treasurer Eileen Brennan RAPS Sheet Editor Larry Sawyer RAPS Representative to Regional & National Retirement Associations, Website Editor Board Members-at-Large Steven Brenner Nancy Eriksson Charlie White Committees Dave Krug History Preservation and Pictorial History Book Chair Nancy Eriksson Social Committee Chair Doug Swanson Friendship Chair Priscilla Blumel Membership Chair Nancy Chapman Scholarship Chair Charlie White Awards Chair Chris Shortell Analyzes the State of the Supreme Court at April 20 Event “The Supreme Court in the Trump Administration: Change, Stasis, and Uncertainty” is the topic of Chris Shortell’s presentation to RAPS Thursday, April 20. Professor Shortell is Associate Professor of Political Science in PSU’s Hatfield School of Government, where he also serves as department chair. He teaches courses on public law and American politics, including judicial process, constitutional law, and civil liberties. Professor Shortell received a PhD in Political Science from the University of California San Diego in 2004. He earned an MA from the same institution in 2002 and graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Political Science and Theatre Arts from Loyola Marymount University in 1997. He joined the PSU faculty in 2008. Chris Shortell’s research deals with the relationship between law and the broader political system, with a particular focus on the interactions between law and society, law and elections, and federalism. He is the author of Rights, Remedies, and the Impact of State Sovereign Immunity (SUNY Press, 2008) and has written articles appearing in scholarly journals such as Election Law Journal, University of Pittsburgh Law Review, and Judicature. In addition, he has contributed chapters to edited volumes on judicial corruption, executive immunity, and leadership on the Supreme Court. His current research focuses on examining how trial courts can inform our understanding of law and politics. The program begins with a light lunch at noon in 238 SMSU. Dr. Shortell begins speaking at 12:45 pm – a few minutes earlier than our usual pattern as he teaches a class at 2:00 pm. Following his talk we will hold our traditional spring Ice Cream Social.
Co-President’s Message Heartfelt thanks are due two members of the RAPS Board who “retired” from their posts recently. Terril Doherty (Budget and Planning Department) served as Social Committee Chair for almost two years, during which time she ably organized August picnics, spring potlucks, and spring ice cream socials. In the role of Friendship Chair, Jack Cooper (English) spent the better part of two years documenting the passing of retired staff and faculty through his well-crafted obituaries in the RAPS Sheet. Thank you, Terril and Jack. Nancy Eriksson (Geology), who joined the Board last year as a Member-at-Large, has stepped in to take Terril’s place, and former RAPS Sheet Editor Doug Swanson (Publications) has assumed Jack’s role. Nancy and Doug, we are grateful to you for filling these important roles in RAPS. Please accept this gentle reminder that Thursday, April 20 is the deadline to nominate retirees for the 2017 Outstanding Portland State Retiree Award. Recipients are recognized for their accomplishments postretirement in two or more of these areas: service to the community, service to the University, professional or career achievements, and service to RAPS. I’ll bet every one of you knows someone who is deserving of this honor. The Awards Committee chaired by Charlie White has simplified the nomination process. A onepage nomination form was included in the January and February issues of the RAPS Sheet and can be obtained online at this link: https://goo.gl/uiJtZh. Remember, nominees do not need to be RAPS members. Save the date! Looking ahead to December, I am delighted to tell you we have a new date and venue for our annual holiday brunch. Thursday, December 14, is the date and Nordia House is the venue. Nordia House is the Scandinavian Heritage Foundation’s beautiful new cultural and community center located in Beaverton. Mark your calendars now, as this promises to be a festive event with delicious food. --Dawn White, Co-President Don’t Forget to Sign Up For May 3 Wine Tour! Join our always engaging leader, Scott Burns, on a trip to the Hood River area this year. In addition to opportunities to taste (and purchase) the wines of the region, we will learn about the terroir of the Hood River valley and expand our knowledge of the geology of the Columbia Gorge. The plan is to visit three wineries, Cathedral Ridge, Phelps Creek, and Springhill Cellars, with the possibility of replacing one of those with either The Pines or Marchesi. Date: Wednesday, May 3, 2017 Time: 9:30-6:00, bus will leave from PSU Bring your own lunch, water, nibbles tasting fee for these wineries is typically $5 or purchase of one bottle of wine; participants will cover any tasting fees $70 per person (includes the $40 base fee for expenses with the remainder helping to build the scholarship fund. Limit of 26 participants. Sign up now—the tour is already filling. Call Adam at 503-725-3347 to reserve your space(s) and send a check to PSU, PO Box 751—RAPS, Portland OR 97207-0751. You can also pay at a RAPS Program meeting. 2
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RAPS Group Reports The RAPS Book Group. The book group met on March 21 at the home of Felicia Wirtz and discussed A Man Called Ove by the Swedish writer Fredrik Backman. The discussion centered on the skill of the story-teller, the artful use of language, and the poignancy of the tale—as well as identifying the frequent episodes that were very funny. It was a book that we all enjoyed. True to our roots in academia, we tried to ground the events of the book in the culture of Sweden, about which we knew very little. The book selected for discussion in April is The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro. Set in post-Arthurian Britain, it is a tale of an elderly couple that set off on a journey to visit their son. The back cover describes it as “a luminous meditation on the art of forgetting, and the power of memory, an extraordinary tale of love, vengeance and war.” We will meet at the home of Phyllis Leonard which is in the complex called Hassalo on 8th. Her address is 1061 NE 9th Ave, Apartment #1623 at the Aster Tower. The entrance to the building is actually on Hassalo Street. Max red, blue, and green lines also are very close. Please telephone Phyllis at 503-930-5672 or e-mail her at leonard.pj@gmail.com and let her know whether you will be there. The book group meets the third Tuesday of every month at 1:30. New members are always welcome. -–Joan Shireman The RAPS Bridge Group. The RAPS bridge group meets in the afternoon on the first Tuesday of each month. We begin play at 12:15 pm. We try to finish up by 4 PM. We meet in Smith Center, usually on the second floor, but sometimes on the third floor. Please mark your calendars for the following upcoming months; bridge dates, rooms and times: Tuesday, April 4, 2017; 12:15 pm in SMSU 294 Note: May date is on Monday (not Tuesday) *** Monday, May 8, 2017; 12:15 pm in SMSU 296 Tuesday, June 6, 2017; 12:15 pm in SMSU 294 I will send out the reminder email notice about one week prior to each date we play. The RAPS bridge group members are very friendly and are always looking for new players. If you wish to join us, please contact Steve Brennan,503-646-6297. My email address is the.steve.brennan@gmail.com. --Steve Brennan The RAPS Hiking Group Tom and Cilla Dieterich led the February hike of 8 hikers. They started out with a one hour walking tour of the Pendleton Woolen Mills in Washougal followed by a 4.5 mile birding hike at the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge just outside of Washougal. Eleven species were identified with the naked eye. Most were waterfowl or raptors. The outing was completed with lunch at the Wild Flower and Cupcake Café in Washougal. By the time you read this the March 28 hike should have taken place. It will also be an aquatic birding hike in the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge. The April 25 hike will be along Catherine Creek in the Columbia Gorge to Coyote Wall. There is a shorter hike less than 2 miles and a longer hike to Coyote Wall at 8.2 miles and more elevation gain. There are several return options that will be decided upon by the hikers participating. Sack lunch on the trail. More details are available at www.pdx.edu/raps .. 4 --Larry Sawyer
In Memoriam: Craig A. Magwire, 1922-2017 raig A. Magwire, professor emeritus of mathematical sciences, died in his Wilsonville home on January 30. He was 94 years old. Professor Magwire was born July 9, 1922, in Meadow Grove, Nebraska, to Dewey and Elsie Magwire. He was the second of six children. He received a B.A. from Nebraska State Teachers College (now Wayne State College) in 1943. It was there that Professor Magwire met his future wife, Janet Maurine Judd. As a Navy aviator during World War II, he piloted Navy patrol bombers engaged in anti-submarine warfare in the Gulf of Mexico and Pacific Ocean. After the war Professor Magwire continued his education at the University of Michigan, where he received a master’s in mathematics in 1947. In 1953 he completed a Ph.D. in mathematical statistics at Stanford University. His teaching career took him to the University of Wyoming; Stanford; the Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, California; and the University of Nevada, Reno, before he joined Portland State in 1969. Professor Magwire also had extensive private sector experience, including stints with IBM and Aerojet General. While at the Naval Postgraduate School from 1955 to 1959, he worked as an independent consultant with Boeing and Stanford Research Institute.Professor Magwire served Portland State as director of Computer Services from 1969 to 1973, when he joined the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. He was a member of several professional societies, including the Association for Computing Machinery, the Institute of Mathematical Statistics, and the Society of Industrial and Applied Mathematics. Professor Magwire and his wife, Janet, owned and operated a 72-acre hazelnut orchard in Hillsboro. He and his wife, who were married for 72 years, were longtime members of the Lake Grove Presbyterian Church. He is survived by his wife, five children, four grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. –Doug Swanson In Memoriam: Patricia J. McKinney, 1928-2017 atricia Jean Springer McKinney, who served Portland State as a lecturer in the Department of English from 1967 to 1979, died January 25 at age 88. Ms. McKinney, a fourth-generation Oregonian, was born in Portland on October 1, 1928. She received her undergraduate degree in 1950 from the University of Oregon and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Portland State in 1967. She also taught at Oregon State University. Ms. McKinney traveled widely and researched and wrote Cymru Am Both: Gmanfa Ganu: Traditional Welsh Culture in Oregon and A History of Ardenwald. She served on the board of the Portland English Speaking Union of the United States and was an active member of Ascension Episcopal Parish. She is survived by her sister, Mary Mitchell; daughters Samantha and Phoebe; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her brother, Joseph; daughter, Tisa; and son, Phillip. A memorial celebration of life is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 1 p.m., at Ascension Episcopal Parish Chapel. Remembrances may be sent to Beaverton Meals on Wheels. 5 —Doug Swanson C P
In Memoriam: Raymond W. Sommerfeldt, 1922-2017 ay Sommerfeldt, professor emeritus of physics, died February 14 at his home in Bend. He was 92 years old. Prof. Sommerfeldt was born in Portland on October 27, 1924, to Walter and Lena Sommerfeldt. He graduated from Portland’s Franklin High School, then served in the U.S. Army Air Forces as a radio operator in the Pacific Theater during World War II. At war’s end, he returned to Portland and enrolled at Vanport Extension Center, the institution that was moved downtown in 1952 and evolved into Portland State University. After transferring to the University of Oregon in 1949, Prof. Sommerfeldt completed an undergraduate degree in physics, then continued his education at Oregon State University, where he earned a master’s in 1954 and a Ph.D. in 1964. Before joining the physics faculty at Portland State in 1966, he taught at Texas A&M and Oregon State, and served as visiting scientist at the Institute of Physics, University of Uppsala, Sweden. He earned the Carter Award for outstanding teaching in the School of Sciences at OSU. During his 20-year career at Portland State, Prof. Sommerfeldt coauthored papers in Physics Letters, American Journal of Physics, and Bulletin of the American Physical Society, among others; served as a member of the City Club of Portland; was secretary and president of the Oregon Section of the American Association of Physics Teachers; and served as section representative of the Oregon Academy of Science. In addition to serving as head of the Department of Physics, he also participated on departmental, college, and university committees. After his retirement, Prof. Sommerfeldt moved to Bend and “started a whole new life” in the words of his wife, Alyce. He started a senior softball league and looked after the couple’s horses and malamutes on the couple’s five-acre property. “He loved it here in our log cabin,” she said. Prof. Sommerfeldt is survived by his wife, Alyce, and his sister, Dorothy Phillips. He was preceded in death by his sons, Raymond and Joseph, from a previous marriage. A memorial service is scheduled for on May 10, 1 p.m., at Willamette National Cemetery, 11800 SE Mt. Scott Boulevard, Portland. Remembrances may be sent to Partners in Care, 2075 NW Wyatt Ct I, Bend, 97701. –Doug Swanson Upcoming RAPS Events—Save the Dates May 3, 2017 Wine Tour with Professor Emeritus Scott Burns, including commentary about the geology of the Columbia River Gorge as we travel to and visit three wineries in the Hood River area, probably Cathedral Ridge, Phelps Creek, and Springhill Cellars. Cost: $70 per person, of which $30 will support our Scholarship Fund. Limit of 26 participants. May 18, 2017 (Columbia Falls Ballroom, University Place) President’s Gathering for Retired Faculty and Staff. 6 R
In Memoriam: Lynn E. Thompson, 1935-2017 ynn E. Thompson, associate professor emeritus of social work and former assistant dean of the School of Social Work, died at his home in Milwaukie on February 18 at age 81. Professor Thompson was born December 15, 1935, in Oakland, California, the only child of Lynn Thompson and Eleanor Saulpaugh Thompson. He grew up in Oakland and earned a bachelor’s degree in 1962 and a master of social work in 1964 from the University of California, Berkeley. Gordon Hearn, the first dean of the Portland State School of Social Work, was his undergraduate adviser. Professor Thompson married Christine Kirkland Malcolm in Oakland on December 24, 1963. After graduation, the couple moved to Portland, where Professor Thompson began work at the Parry Center, a residential treatment program for children. Two years later he left Parry to become a student counselor and instructor at Mount Angel College. In summer 1968 Professor Thompson worked with Dan Jennings and the Oregon Department of Public Welfare to survey the undergraduate social work courses being taught in Oregon. Public Welfare funded the study to assess the feasibility of establishing an undergraduate program. That fall he was recruited to Portland State to develop an undergraduate certificate program in social work. He remained in that position until 1974, when Professor Norm Wyers became coordinator. The social work major began in 1975, was accredited in 1981, and graduated more than 150 students before it was phased out in the mid-1980s. Professor Thompson taught practice courses at both the undergraduate and graduate levels throughout his PSU career. He was a regular instructor for first-year courses in direct services methods. He helped to develop a required course on group work, and he was instrumental in developing a laboratory that used TV to record students as they practiced social work skills. He became assistant dean under Dean Ricky Ross in 1978 and continued in that position until he retired in 1987. “Lynn was very organized, thoughtful, and supportive in his role as assistant dean,” recalled Barbara Friesen, professor emerita of social work. “He is remembered fondly by those who had the good fortune to work with him or take his classes.” Professor Thompson continued his social work career after retirement from Portland State, opening a private practice in which he worked with men’s groups. Retirement gave him an opportunity to write poetry, something he had dabbled in since childhood, and he produced two books of verse. He also developed a profound interest creating stained glass, a pursuit he continued until he developed rheumatoid arthritis. He is survived by his wife, Chris. The Thompsons recently created the Clinical Social Work and Mental Health Endowed Scholarship to support students in the MSW program who plan to concentrate in clinical social work and mental health. Because this is a newer endowment, donors to the fund might consider directing their gift to the payout account, ensuring that an award will be made to a student in the coming year. Gifts can be sent directly to the PSU Foundation, PO Box 243, Portland, OR 97207-0243, or made online at www.psuf.org/Thompson. For more information, contact Gayle Schneider, director of development, School of Social Work, 503-725-5032, or schneiderg@psuf.org. --Nancy Koroloff and Doug Swanson 7 L
PSU Spring Opera Preview—March Meeting Members previewed the PSU Spring Opera Performance of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. We were entertained at Lincoln Hall by Collaborative Piano Faculty Chuck Dillard, Senior Shainy Manuel, Masters student Hope McCaffrey, Director of Opera and faculty member Christine Meadows, junior Erik Standfird, and seniors Saori Erikson, Darian Hutchinson, Luke Smith, and Grace Skinner. Opera dates for the joint performance of Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi are April 21, 23 (matinee), 25, 28, 29 and 30 (matinee). Tickets may be purchased on line at: http://portlandstate.universitytickets.com/user_pages/event_listings.asp --Photo by Larry Sawyer Birding at the Steigerwald Wildlife Refuge --Photos by Cilla Dieterich
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