Retirement Association of Portland State Portland State University—RAPS Post Office Box 751 Portland OR 97207-0751 Campus Public Safety Building Second Floor, Room 212 SW Montgomery at Broadway Office Manager Eben Yemoh Telephone: 503-725-3447 Email: rapsmail@pdx.edu In office: 11 am-3 pm Mon-Wed Remotely: 11 am-3 pm Thurs & Fri Campus mail: RAPS Web: www.pdx.edu/raps Board Members Co-Presidents Pat Squire Bruce Stern Secretary Brian Lewis Treasurer Ansel Johnson Members-at-Large Nancy Eriksson Cheryl Livneh Michael Taylor RAPS Sheet Editor Doug Swanson Website Editor Larry Sawyer RAPS Representative to Regional & National Retirement Associations Larry Sawyer Committees Awards Steve Brennan, Chair History Preservation Eileen Brennan, Chair Membership Pati Sluys, Chair Program Dawn White, Chair Scholarship Joan Shireman, Chair Social Nancy Eriksson, Chair The RAPS Sheet The newsletter of the Retirement Association of Portland State DECEMBER 2021 Big moment for the RAPS Scholarship THANKS TO AN ANONYMOUS DONOR, the entire RAPS membership has an opportunity to transform the RAPS Scholarship—to strengthen the scholarship account and perhaps even increase the number of scholarships granted. The RAPS Scholarship is given every year to a student in a field related to gerontology. It has been awarded every year since 2011, and the amount of the scholarship is now $4,500. The donor, who made a significant gift to the scholarship fund, is now challenging RAPS members to donate by December 31, 2021.The donor will match your donation, match it by 150 percent, or even match it by 200 percent! Here is how the challenge works… n If you give the same amount you did when you last donated to the scholarship fund (since January 2020), the donor will match your donation by 100 percent. So if you gave $40 last time, and make a new donation of $40 by December 31, the donor will match your gift dollar for dollar. So your $40 gift has turned into $80. n If you increase your last gift by 50 percent, the donor will match your donation by 150 percent. For example, if your last gift was $40, and you write a $60 check to the scholarship fund by December 31, your gift will be matched by $90, resulting in a gift to the fund of $150. n Finally, if you double your last gift, the match will be 200 percent! So if your last gift was $40, and you make a new gift of $80, the donor will match it with $160, for a total of $240 to the scholarship fund. It’s clear how the donor’s challenge can add up very quickly and result in a dramatic transformation of the ability of RAPS to make meaningful changes to the lives of Portland State students. The donations must be made by check and sent to the RAPS Office. Every donation made between October 1, 2021, and December 31, 2021, is eligible for the challenge. To participate, make your check payable to the PSU Foundation, and note on your check’s memo line that the donation is for the RAPS Scholarship. Mail to Retirement Association of Portland State—RAPS, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland OR 97207-0751. Thank you for taking this exciting opportunity to enhance the RAPS Scholarship Fund! —Pat Squire and Bruce Stern, Co-Presidents —Joan Shireman, Chair, Scholarship Committee THE HOLIDAY BRUNCH IS BACK! Thursday, December 9 See story page 3
2 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 CO-PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE There’s more to the holidays than food and gifts HOLIDAY SEASON is upon us again. No matter what you celebrate, I wish you the happiest of holidays. Now that we are in sight of herd immunity, I hope you’re able to celebrate with friends, family, and colleagues. At our age, however, we still need to be cautious–especially if one is compromised. Last year’s holidays were challenging for all of us. Thank goodness we could connect remotely through Google Groups, Zoom, and the like. This year we are faced with rising prices, product shortages, cargo issues, etc. I’m hoping that I don’t have to swim to a cargo vessel to shop for presents. Seriously, it’s important to remember that the holidays are more about religion, historical significance, family, friendships, and being there for each other than about food and gifts. In spite of all the challenges presented by this pandemic, RAPS has been active in providing learning opportunities for you. I hope you were able to join us on October 21 for our first in-person program in a while. Juan Barraza, of the PSU Center for Entrepreneurship, and one of his students presented an overview of the innovative ideas that his student groups have been working on. Some of these have actually gone to market. On November 18 President Steve Percy and Dr. Ame Lambert shared with us the equity and racial justice initiatives that PSU is involved with. On Thursday, December 9, we present our annual (except for last year) Holiday Brunch. Festivities begin at 10:30 a.m. with a social period followed by brunch at 11:00 a.m. The party will take place at Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Avenue, Portland. I hope to see you there and have a chance to interact with you. —Bruce Stern Last year’s holidays were challenging. This year I’m hoping that I don’t have to swim to a cargo vessel to shop for presents. Two students awarded PSU Women’s Association scholarships TWO PSU WOMEN’S ASSOCIATION scholarships have been awarded for the 2021-22 academic year. The recipients are Rosie Esquivel, who is studying computer science, and Galilea Estrada Sanchez, who is studying social work. Both have sent thank you letters. Four years ago the association, as part of the process of closing its books, transferred stewardship of its scholarship fund to RAPS. Rosie writes that Portland State is her “dream school,” with its big-city location and focus on diversity. She is an out-of-state student, so tuition is high. She plans, in addition to her studies, to be active in taking advantage of the networking opportunities and internships that are available. Rosie writes, “Receiving this scholarship will help with my financial needs, allow me to focus on my studies, and participate in extracurricular activities.” Galilea is studying in the School of Social Work. The daughter of immigrants, she was the first woman in her family to graduate from high school, and being accepted at a university was even more special. There were, however, no resources to help pay for further education. The scholarship is enabling her to continue her education. She hopes to use her social work degree to work with immigrant and refugee families. Galilea writes, “I wish to become an immigrant and refugee social worker. I hope to one day promote and support individual and community well-being while fighting social injustices.”
3 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 Holiday Brunch returns after pandemic hiatus THE RAPS HOLIDAY BRUNCH is back! The brunch is a popular event, with good food, good conversation, and the delightful Treat Table loaded with all kinds of goodies for sale. Mark your calendar for Thursday, December 9. The event begins with complimentary beverage service at 10:30 a.m. Brunch begins at 11 a.m. The location is Augustana Lutheran Church, 2710 NE 14th Avenue, Portland. Your easiest access is the NE 15th entrance. On-street parking is readily available, and the location is served by Tri-Met line 8, Jackson Park/NE 15th. Chef Andrew Garett and his staff will be on hand to prepare and present a delightful meal. You may recall Andrew from the wonderful 2019 Holiday Brunch. Our always popular Treat Table will offer seasonal goodies, gift certificates, and other unique items for sale. All proceeds support the RAPS Scholarship Fund. (See accompanying story for more details.) 2021 RAPS Holiday Brunch When: Thursday, Dec. 9. Complimentary beverages begin: 10:30 a.m. Brunch begins: 11 a.m. Location: Augustana Lutheran Church 2710 NE 14th Avenue Portland Cost: $25 per person. Reservations: Call or email RAPS Office by Thursday, Dec. 2. Brunch is $25 per person, and we need to hear from you by Thursday, December 2. To reserve your ticket, please contact Eben Yemoh, RAPS Office manager, at rapsmail@pdx.edu or by telephone at 503-725-3447. Please make your check payable to the PSU Foundation and write “Holiday Brunch” on the memo line. Send your check to: Retirement Association of Portland State—RAPS Portland State University PO Box 751 Portland, OR 97207-0751 Always room on Treat Table for a few more good treats! THE SALE OF BAKED GOODS and small holiday items at the Treat Table has long been a part of our Holiday Brunch. Proceeds from the sale go to the RAPS Scholarship Fund, and your donation would be welcome! We already have six RAPS members who are donating something baked (all are excellent bakers) and two or three who are bringing an item to sell. We would be delighted to have more. So if you are in the mood to bake something for the holidays or if you have a small item to donate and would like to help the RAPS Scholarship fund, bring your offering to the Holiday Brunch and we will add it to our table. The donor sets the price. Upcoming RAPS events JANUARY Thursday, January 20 “What Happened in Afghanistan?” presentation by Grant Farr, professor emeritus of sociology. Room TBA. FEBRUARY Thursday, February 17 “The Inside Story on Who First Planted Pinot Noir in Oregon: It Might Not Be Who You Think,” presentation by Michael Alberty, wine writer for The Oregonian. Room TBA. MARCH Thursday, March 17 Annual March Potluck and spring opera preview with PSU opera program director Harry Baechtel and student performers. After a delay of two years, PSU Opera is mounting the previously planned production of Merry Wives of Windsor, an operetta in three acts by Otto Nicolai. Room TBA.
4 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 ‘Out of Vogue/Loin de l’Air du Temps’: French, English—you choose CLAUDINE FISHER says the inspiration for her new book, Out of Vogue/Loin de l’Air du Temps, came from five short stories she found in the bottom of a desk drawer. Out of that inspiration grew a collection of 22 short stories published in September. Presented in both English and French, the format of Out of Vogue/Loin de l’Air du Temps allows learners of French—or English—to read without hunting through a dictionary. Professor Fisher taught at Portland State for more than 30 years and served for 14 years as the Honorary Consul of France for the State of Oregon. Among her books are Little Muratou (2020); Call Me Carole (2019); and the Paris In Paris Out trilogy, The Reluctant Paris Rebel (2016), Southbound French Settlers (2017), and The Breton Black-Foot (2017). Born in Algiers, she lived in Provence, Bordeaux, and Paris, where she received her doctorate from the University of Paris in 1970. She joined the Portland State faculty in 1972. How did you come to write Out of Vogue/Loin de l’Air du Temps? After I finished six historical novels, I was wondering what to focus on next for a theme for my next adventure in writing. I found in my drawer two short stories in French and three short stories in English. So, the idea came to me to write short stories, though the genre is not fashionable these days. I would have to translate the texts as they were written in a different language. Since I was going to translate them, I might as well create new stories and present them in parallel texts in French and English, face-to-face for bilingual people and learners. A teacher always remains a teacher, and I had taught M.A. classes in translation at PSU. How would you describe the book? It a combination of fun and work for the reader! As it was fun and work for me. The stories are diverse in theme, setting, time, and tone. Some tales are sad, some are funny. The short story allows for a vast variety of mood. What challenges did you face? I can’t think of any challenge except the one of translation. With “Google Translate” anyone has access to easy translation, but for literary texts the translations are often approximative, wrong, or hilarious. Good human translators are needed still, for better or worse, to express varied nuances, difficult concepts, idiomatic expressions, or hidden meanings. This is the theme of one of my stories. Another story is what bilingualism does to your brain. Who is the audience? Anyone who wants a quick read, a person who wants to refresh his/her French, a student or an expert who wants to see if my translation is up to par (ha-ha!), a French person who wishes to improve one’s English. What do you hope the book accomplishes for its readers? That answer is beyond me. You author a book and let it go. It flies or not. It takes on a life of its own without me, just like for a child. And the meaning of the title? I was afraid of the ambiguity of “Vogue” with the magazine. But I let it go on purpose. In French, I use an idiomatic expression that I like which is “far from the air of time,” meaning “not in, out of fashion.” In English, it does mean “outmoded, out of date, out of style.” Just like the older generation who is out of step with the new! Out of Vogue/Loin de l’Air du Temps: Fisher, Claudine: 9798481307305: Amazon.com: Books RAPS Awards Committee invites 2022 nominations ARE YOU AWARE of a RAPS member who has been active in community service, University affairs, or professional activity? Of course you are. Why not nominate her or him for the 2022 Outstanding Portland State Retiree Award? A nomination form appears on page 5 of this edition of the RAPS Sheet. But you don’t need a form—nominations on ordinary paper or by email are fine. RAPS also bestows Special Recognition awards to any person, often a current PSU employee, who has aided RAPS and also is engaged in community or university affairs. Please mail your nominations to the Retirement Association of Portland State—RAPS, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland OR 97207-0751 or by email (you don’t have to use the form) to Eben Yemoh, RAPS Office manager, at rapsmail@pdx.edu. The deadline for receipt of nominations is Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Members of the current RAPS Board are not eligible for nomination. Questions? Please contact Steve Brennan, chair of the Awards Committee, at the.steve.brennan@gmail.com or 503-889-0146.
5 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 2022 RAPS AWARD NOMINATION FORM Each spring at the President’s Luncheon RAPS gives an Outstanding Retiree Award to one or more PSU retirees. The awards are in recognition of outstanding accomplishments post retirement in two or more of these four areas: 1) service to the community, 2) service to the University, 3) professional or career achievements, and 4) service to RAPS. A Special Recognition Award can go to anyone who has aided both RAPS and the University. Award Type: q Outstanding Retiree q Special Recognition Nominee__________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominee’s position(s) at PSU__________________________________________________________________________ Please outline in the space below the accomplishments of the person you are nominating. Attach an additional page if needed: Nominator_________________________________________________________________________________________ Nominator contact information (phone and email) _________________________________________________________ Please send nominations by U.S. mail to: Retirement Association of Portland State—RAPS Portland State University PO Box 751 Portland OR 97207-0751 You may also submit a nomination by email (you don’t have to use the form) to Eben Yemoh, RAPS Office manager, at rapsmail@pdx.edu. Deadline for receipt of nominations is Wednesday, March 2, 2022. Questions? Please contact Steve Brennan, chair of the Awards Committee, at the.steve.brennan@gmail.com or 503-889-0146.
6 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 RAPS Group Reports Book Group THE BOOK GROUP met on November 16 and discussed Isabele Allende’s A Long Petal of the Sea. This is the story of a family that takes refuge in Chile in the aftermath of Franco’s takeover of Spain. It is also a story of Chile itself, a country that has been hospitable to refugees and has struggled to maintain freedom for its citizens. In discussing the book, we felt we were also learning about South America. Beautifully written, with complex characters, it is a compelling and memorable book. In December we are going to read and discuss Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Elizabeth Kolbert. It is a sequel to her prizewinning The Sixth Extinction, which we read earlier. The Book Group meets the third Tuesday of each month, traditionally in the homes of various members. Currently we are using Zoom for our meetings. Any RAPS member is welcome to join the group. —Joan Shireman Bridge Group THE BRIDGE GROUP (pre-pandemic shut down) used to meet in the afternoon on the first Tuesday of each month. Play began at 12:15 p.m. and finished up by 4 p.m. We met in Smith Center. We had a set of about 10 regular players. Most months we had two tables but some months we could only gather enough players for one table. COVID-19 cases in Multnomah County do not seem to be declining to a “moderate risk” level. I am not sure that it would be a good idea to restart in-person bridge sessions just yet. Multnomah County is currently at a “very high risk” level. We will watch that risk level and begin bridge sessions when the risk drops down to “moderate” or maybe just “high risk.” We need additional players; do you want to join us? I would like to hear from any interested RAPS members, or others you know who might want to play in our group. The RAPS Bridge Group does not require RAPS membership; your friends and relatives would be welcome to join us. Please contact Steve Brennan, 503-889-0146. My email address is: the.steve.brennan@gmail.com. —Steve Brennan The RAPS Scholarship committee is considering a fundraising trip called “Autumn in Vermont featuring Lake Champlain and the Adirondacks.” You can view the trip details at the link: https://www.gocollette.com/en/tours/north-america/usa/autumnin-vermont The first trip begins on September 11, 2022, and the last trip begins on October 23, 2022. Two trips in early October are already sold out. If you are interested, please contact larry_sawyer@comcast.net or joanshireman@gmail.com. Autumn in Vermont A RAPS TRIP IN FALL OF 2022
7 The RAPS Sheet December 2021 In memoriam: Forbes W. Williams, 1923-2021 FORBES W. WILLIAMS, a professor of education at Portland State for more than 30 years, died October 13 at his Portland home. He was 98 years old. Professor Williams, whose great-grandparents arrived in Oregon by wagon train in 1847, was born February 15, 1923, in Portland, to Lewis Daniel and Elaine King Williams. He attended public schools in Ilwaco and South Bend, Washington, before entering Whitman College. In 1942, when he was a sophomore at Whitman, he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was assigned to the 99th Infantry Division. Professor Williams served as an infantry machine gunner and squad leader. He participated in many of the major European battles, including the Battle of the Bulge, the crossing of the Rhine at Remagen, the Ruhr Pocket, and the liberation of the Dachau concentration camp. He was the recipient of the Bronze Star, the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and the Army Commendation medal. Professor Williams returned to Whitman after the war. He completed his bachelor’s degree in political science and history in 1948, the same year he married Sylvia Whitford. The couple had six children. In 1950 he completed a master’s in political science at the University of Oregon and two years later began teaching elementary school in Portland Public Schools. In 1955 he received a second B.A. degree, in elementary education, at Lewis & Clark College, then completed a doctoral degree at Stanford in 1965. He joined the Portland State faculty in 1966 and served as the first chair of the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and, later, the Department of Teacher Education. In 1981 he was named dean of undergraduate studies. In 1988 he retired from Portland State as dean emeritus of undergraduate studies and professor emeritus of education. Professor Williams was the author and co-author of several textbooks on elementary school social studies. He was a member of Phi Delta Kappa education honorary, Phi Kappa Phi and Sigma Chi fraternity. Professor Williams and Sylvia traveled extensively in Europe and made annual trips to Maui and Kauai, Hawaii. They also had a vacation home in Seaview, Washington, where Professor Williams had lived as a child. He served as a deacon at Valley Presbyterian Church, Beaverton, and Rise Church, Tigard. Sylvia died in 2007. Professor Williams is survived by five children: Mary Jones (Greg), of Portland; Margaret Larson (Tom), of Seaview, Washington; David Williams (Heather), of Orting, Washington; Suzanne Williams, of Portland; and Katherine Wesenberg, of Sutherlin. In addition, Professor Williams is survived by eight grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren. A son, Stephen, died in 1962. Remembrances may be made to the music program at Rise Church, 10445 SW Canterbury Lane, Tigard, OR 97224. 1985 PSU Archives Digital Gallery In memoriam: Clyde Calvin, 1934-2021 CLYDE CALVIN, a longtime biology professor at Portland State, died November 3 in Richmond, California, at age 87. Professor Calvin was born June 22, 1934, in Winlock, Washington, to Clyde R. Calvin and Ellen R. (McClanahan) Calvin. He joined three older sisters, Roberta, Jeanette, and Elsie. After a childhood spent working on the family dairy farm in Toledo, Washington, he entered Washington State University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in 1960. He received a master’s degree at Purdue University 1962 and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Davis, in 1966. Professor Calvin taught briefly at Long Beach State and Western Oregon before joining the Portland State Department of Biology in 1968. He taught, conducted research— notably on native mistletoes around the world—and mentored graduate students until he retired after more than 30 years of service. He was named an emeritus professor upon his retirement. At his passing he was a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, where his collections and research archives will be housed. Professor Calvin traveled with his wife, Carol, as well as friends and colleagues, to collect specimens of mistletoe and iris in the United States, Africa, the Middle East, and Asia. Professor Calvin’s death was preceded by that of his parents and two of his sisters, Roberta Spencer and Jeanette Ward. He is survived by his wife, Carol; sister, Elsie Calvin; four children, Stephen, Carolyn, Christoper, and Jeremiah; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. An online guestbook is available at www.oregonlive.com/obits. PSU Archives Digital Gallery 1987
In memoriam: Pavel K. Smejtek, 1936-2021 PAVEL K. SMEJTEK, who served Portland State for more than three decades as a professor of physics, died October 5 at age 85. Professor Smejtek was born March 27, 1936, in Zilina, Slovakia, to Jan and Pavla Smejtek. He received an M.S. in 1961 from the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute (now Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University). In 1962 he was married to his first wife, Nadya, and the couple settled in Prague, where Professor Smejtek received a Ph.D. in 1965 from the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (now the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic). When the Soviet Union invaded Czechoslovakia in 1968, the Smejtek family fled in their small Skoda car. They traveled through Austria, France, and Belgium, and eventually landed in North Carolina, where Professor Smejtek accepted an appointment at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He joined Portland State in 1972 as a professor of physics. His key research focused on surface and interface properties of artificial and biological membranes and environmental membrane biophysics. In 2003 he was recognized for his outstanding teaching by students in the College of Engineering and Computer Science. After his retirement in 2003, he continued his research as an emeritus professor for 10 years. Professor Smejtek’s first marriage ended in divorce in 1989. In 1993 he married Shanru Wang, and they traveled widely during their nearly three decades together. The Smejteks had a second home in Maui, Hawaii, visited family in China and the Czech Republic, and enjoyed traveling to Mexico and various parts of Europe. Professor Smejtek is survived by his wife, Shanru Wang; stepdaughter, Jennie Mao; son, Dalibor Smejtek and his wife, Penny Ross; granddaughter, Isabella Smejtek; sister, Jana Kostkan; and nephew, Tomas Kostkan and his family. Professor Smejtek’s death was preceded by that of his parents and brother-in-law Jiri Kostkan. In memoriam: Michihiro Kosuge, 1943-2021 MICHIHIRO KOSUGE, a longtime Portland State professor of art, a fixture in the Portland art community, and a sculptor whose work is recognized throughout the Pacific Northwest, died on October 13. He was 78 years old. Professor Kosuge was born in Tokyo on March 29, 1943. He studied sculpture at Tokyo Sumida Technical School of Architecture and graduated with a B.A. in 1961. He came to the United States in 1967 to study architecture, but soon returned to sculpture. “After taking several art courses to better understand shape and form,” he said in an article on the Washington State Arts Commission website, “I found that making sculpture was a much better way to express my ideas and my way of thinking.” Professor Kosuge received a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from the San Francisco Art Institute in 1970. He soon moved to Oregon and joined the Portland State Department of Art—now the School of Art + Design—in 1978, where he remained until his retirement. He became a full professor in 1989, served three years as department chair, and was promoted to emeritus after his 2003 retirement. A remembrance on the Russo Lee Gallery website described Professor Kosuge’s work as reflecting “the interaction of humans with nature and a profound respect for the natural world. . . For anyone who knew Michi, they recognized a passionate soul who was intently thoughtful and considerate of those around him. Like his sculptures that created welcoming places of peace and reflection, Michi possessed a deep kindness and willingness to listen and collaborate with a diversity of voices.” The gallery represented Professor Kosuge for many years, and he and the gallery’s founder, Laura Russo, were life partners. She died in 2010. According to an article on the School of Art + Design website, his work has been shown at major museums in the United States, including the Portland Art Museum, the San Francisco Museum of Art, the Oakland Art Museum, and the Seattle Art Museum. Among Professor Kosuge’s major public works is a five-piece commission for the Portland Tri-Met Transit Mall. Professor Kosuge’s work in granite, Beacons of Creativity (2016), is in the lobby of Lincoln Hall’s Broadway Gallery. Commissioned through a gift from the estate of Denis Norstrom, the base stone represents the College of the Arts, and four stones atop the base stone represent the schools within the college—Architecture, Art + Design, Film, and Music and Theater. PSU Archives Digital Gallery 1985 8 The RAPS Sheet December 2021
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