RAPSU BOARD AND COMMITTEE BIOGRAPHIES

RAPSU BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS AND SALC COORDINATOR

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT: Sandy Stapleton

Sandy is a native Portlander (as is her husband). She attended Washington High School and later Portland State University where she graduated receiving a bachelor’s degree in sociology. She furthered her education at the University of California at Berkeley where she received her Masters in Social Work. She was thereafter employed as a social worker in the Portland area for about 30 years until her retirement. She continues to be active with book groups, attending the theater and volunteering with various organizations including RAPSU.

PRESIDENT-ELECT: Sandy Trainer

Sandy was elected by the RAPSU BOARD in February 2012 to replace Rich Hines, who moved out of town. She will serve out his term as President for 2012/13.

Sandy was born and raised in suburban Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and lived in that area most of her life. She graduated from Denison, University, in Granville, Ohio, with a BS in Psychology and a secondary teaching certificate in Math and Social Studies. She left teaching after she had her first child, and as the children got older she spent more and more time volunteering in the community. She served as a board member and a worker in many organizations and was twice elected to the school board of a very large school district.

Because her three children lived very far away, in 2010 Sandy decided she needed to be near at least some family. She has a son and family in Hood River; another son and family in Lafayette, Louisiana; and a daughter and family in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There was no way to be near all of them, so she picked Portland, because she has always loved the Pacific Northwest. She moved here in September 2010, and lives right downtown, which she loves. She loves to go to the theater, the cinema, concerts, musical shows, museums, lectures, art shows, etc. and she is starting to get involved in organizations here. It was a good move, and she really enjoys living here.

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: Charlene Levesque

Born in Chicago before World War II, Charlene attended a country school, married, and had a family. Settling in Eugene, she raised sheep and published the Black Sheep Newsletter. She was PSU’s Campus Events Scheduler for many years. She is now active on PSU's Walk of the Heroines board, the Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration committee and the African-American Visual Arts Scholarship committee. She is a board member of RAPS and does event scheduling.

TREASURER: Terry Hewitt

Terry began his education in Fargo, North Dakota and spent the first four and a half years in a very small town in western Minnesota. The family then moved to the Quad-cities of Illinois; Moline, Rock Island, etc. -- John Deere country. He was joined by one brother and two sisters. His grade school and high school years were all spent in the Illinois side of the Quad-cities.

His college years began with two years at St. Ambrose College in Davenport, Iowa, followed by one year at Notre Dame, after which the army caught him for two years. The army tried to turn him into a radar technician and let him roam Europe for a year as he was stationed in Erlangen, Germany.

Back in civilian life he went to the University of Illinois and got married. He received his BS and MS degrees in electrical engineering from the U of I. He and his wife Trudi had five children.

Upon finally being educated he began his engineering career at the Research and Development Center of General Electric in Schenectady, New York. After 13 years in Schenectady he transferred to another GE operation in Waynesboro, Virginia. In Virginia he left GE to join Tektronix in Beaverton, and it was Tektronix which moved him and his family to Oregon in 1980 -- they just missed the big St. Helen's blow.

Shortly thereafter Tektronix took him with it as it descended from its big years. He then spent the rest of his engineering career in several medical engineering companies where he was primarily involved in the design of cardiac devices.

While here in the Portland area he continued his education with a BA in philosophy from the University of Portland and taking a number of classes at PSU. He began auditing classes in the SALC program almost as soon as he reached eligibility, and started coming to RAPSU events shortly thereafter. He accepted the position of treasurer since he wanted to return something to this organization for all it has already given him.

He currently lives in Beaverton with his wife, Trudi, who also joins him in auditing at PSU and attending RAPSU events.

SECRETARY: Marge Caruthers

Marge Carothers, and husband Russ of 61 years, moved to Portland two years ago from Tucson. As with many, they moved to be closer to family here and in Seattle (Texas, Alaska and Ohio were other options). While Marge was born in Portland (Russ in Kelso), they've lived in Alaska, Hawaii, Salt Lake City, Aberdeen and Seattle. Her degree from the U. of Washington was in journalism in 1945. They're enjoying Portland, especially the streetcar, as they sold their car before moving here.

CHAIRS AND COMMITTEE MEMBERS

MEMBERSHIP: Jeanie Frankel, Chair

Jeanie will serve not only as Membership Chair but will also be keeping the membership lists, previously a separate function.

Jeanie was born in Forest Hills, NY and the day after marrying in 1968 drove across the country to Eugene, OR, where her late husband received his PhD in Economics. They lived in Chicago and Minnesota before settling in Arlington, VA for over 20 years. Before moving to Portland in 2007 they lived in Basel, Switzerland for 8 years, an incredible experience.

Jeanie received a master's in Library Science from Columbia University and worked mostly as a special librarian in the fields of business. finance and economics. She has a daughter in Portland and another who lives near Boulder, CO. Jeanie has a bit of experience as a Membership Chair, since for 2 years she was the membership chair for the American Women's Club of Basel.

Jeanie now enjoys auditing PSU classes, exercising at March Wellness health club, participating in book groups, and volunteering at the Elm Court Senior Center (affiliated with Loaves and Fishes). She also likes to travel as much as possible, a passion that started soon after college once she had some money. She is looking forward to getting more involved with RAPSU.

Kathy Armour

Kathy was born in and grew up in Ohio. She lived in Arizona for 28 years and graduated from Arizona State University. She taught high school English, worked as a corporate paralegal for 14 years, and ended her working life as a church secretary.

Kathy has two grown children. She moved to Portland 21 years ago and loves it here. Her interests are music, literature and history. Kathy plays the piano and guitar and is currently studying guitar and songwriting. She very much enjoys being a member of RAPSU.

NEWSLETTER EDITOR AND PRODUCTION: Dwight Wallace

Dwight hails from Oakland, CA. He received his B.A. & Ph.D. in Berkeley in 1957. His degree is in Anthropology with a speciality in Archaeology. He took a Fulbright post-doctoral fellowship in Peru; taught at the University of North Carolina, the University of Oregon and the State University of NY, Albany.

Dwight has excavated in Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, Lava Beds National Monument, Mounds outside Eugene, OR, the American lines at Saratoga National Historical Park, NY, various sites in the Mohawk Valley, NY and anywhere else he could.

After 22 years in Albany Dwight and his wife Carol moved to Portland in 2005 to be near their son Neal who teaches at PSU as Associate Professor of Public Administration - Urban & Public Affairs. They live in the American Plaza Condominiums where Dwight helps to edit and produce their newsletter.

NEWSLETTER COORDINATOR: David Sessions, Interim (See Webmaster below)

NEWSLETTER MAILERS

Bob Herbst

Bob attended the University of Illinois. He served as an infantry officer in the Philippines in WW2; he was recalled and fought in Korea in the winter of 1952. He moved from Chicago to Lake Oswego in 1972. He was a V.P. in marketing for Western Wood Products Association.

When Bob retired in 1989, he and his wife built a home in Port Ludlow, WA. In 1996 after 52 fabulous years, Bob was widowed from the girl he met in dancing school and with whom he had five children. He moved back to Oregon in 2005 and lives in the Portland Plaza.

Norton Johnson

I was born in Chicago, Illinois many years ago. Nobody knows exactly when because they didn’t have calendars in 1937, or at least I didn't notice any at the time. I entered college (the I.I.T.School of Architecture) in 1953, and haven't graduated yet.

I moved to Portland in 1969 to escape the blizzards and 1

00% humidity. Meanwhile I worked as a draftsman or engineering technician for various architects, engineers, surveyors, and manufacturers. So I have made calculations and drawn pictures of many strange things. My slide rule and I eventually became obsolete, but fortunately I had some bizarre hobbies which carried me through.

I managed to visit all 50 states and the D. of C. Also I once climbed to the summit of Mt. Hood, and once went skydiving. In 1976 I became a roadrunner, and have since completed 58 marathons (a marathon is 26.2 miles of running and/or walking).

My other accomplishments include smoking about 250,000 cigarettes (between 1953 and 1969). And spending thousands of hours at the pool table, where I made many friends but very little money. I took up singing when I was 16; I am now the world's worst opera singer, and I can prove it. Also, recently, I have won the Portland Spelling Bee a few times.

There have been four beautiful females in my life: My mother, Hazel, who was a flapper girl in the 1920's, and who married a Chicago fireman by the name of Howard Johnson around 1933; my first wife, Merna, a native of the Arbor State, whom I married in 1964 and lived until 1990 ; our daughter Andrea, born in Portland in 1972, now a geologist and a librarian living in Albany, and my present wife, Ella Opdal, a native of the Gopher State, an artist and musician of extraordinary talent, whom I married in 2006. My favorite saying is: "As you ramble on through life, brother, whatever be your goal, keep your eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole."

HISTORIAN: Position not filled.

PROGRAM: Co-chairs

Walter Gleason

For a complete biography of Walter Gleason Click Here.

Betty Burke

Betty was president of the RAPSU Board in 2008. She formerly served three years as Secretary and has been an active member since 2002. She earned a B.A. from Lewis and Clark College in English and French Literature and an M.A.L.S. from Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT in General Studies. Betty also has a broad background of managerial assistance in government and education. Volunteer service has always been a priority in Betty’s life. Currently she helps with Red Cross blood drives and writes articles for her condo association newsletter. Betty continues her own studies as a senior adult learner at PSU, taking at least one course each term. She strongly advocates lifelong learning and "generally tries to be a good citizen."

Betty loves music, art, and literature, but her main focus and chief delight are her six grandchildren. Her oldest grandson works for Deloitte Touche in Chicago. His sister will graduate from Notre Dame in May 2012. Betty closely follows the exploits of her grandchildren in Portland -- soccer, school plays, and other such activities.

Naomi Wamacks

Naomi is a native of the bay area. After a 30 year career in Arizona as university professor/administrator, she retired to the Oregon coast. Three years ago, after 20 years on the coast, she and her husband Cliff moved to Portland.

Some of Naomi's Oregon volunteer activities include: twice a gubernatorial appointee to the Oregon Council for the Humanities; Depoe Bay City Councilor; chair Lincoln County Planning Commission; Oregon Rural Development Initiatives board member; ODOT Transportation advisory committee member; and Hospice and Hospital board member.

Naomi and Cliff have seven adult children, seven grandchildren and two great-grandsons.

PUBLICITY: Bob Herbst (see Newsletter mailer above)

Hospitality: Rosemary Kenney

Rosemary had been coming from eastern Oregon to Portland for years and, in 1980, decided to stay here. She tells people she's from Milton-Freewater but really hails from Umapine. Rosemary has been a dietician for hospitals for years. She volunteers the first three weekdays every week, but saves Thursdays and Fridays for other stuff. She has been Hospitality Chair for many years.

Joan Goodman

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Joan graduated from NYU in 1949 and worked briefly as a researcher with animals. She married, had two children and spent her "free" time as a devoted member of the League of Women Voters in NY state and Wisconsin. She and her husband Gil retired to Oregon in l987. They traveled a lot and after his death in 1998 she has spent time auditing PSU classes, handing out cookies at RAPSU meetings and exercising.

Florence Guimary

Florence Guimary was born February 7. 1933 in Portland, Oregon, the third child of Soon and Suelyn Lee of China. She attended primary and secondary schools in Portland and two years at OSC. After marrying Don Guimary, a freshman at UO, she worked and raised two boys while Don continued his studies and received his PhD. Don taught communications/ journalism at PSU. Florence and Don spent a year in Penang, Malaysia where Don taught on a Fulbright. Don passed away in 1996.

Florence graduated from PSU in 1975 in geography. After working 20 years in cartography with the Army Corps of Engineers she retired in 1998. Since retiring Florence has volunteered in the kitchen at the West Linn Senior Center, has worked out at the PSU gym and has attended classes through SALC.

SOCIAL:

Chair: Mary Lamb

Mary was born on a ranch in the sand hills of north eastern Colorado. After the sand storms of the1930s her family moved to Wichita, Kansas, an area where her grandparents lived. While she was growing up her grandparents lived with them, and she learned much from them. Her grandmother was an excellent seamstress; her grandfather, a retired preacher, taught her how to use the English language. Her father maintained tools at Cessna Aircraft; her mother taught in the in the school system established for the children of the hundreds of war time workers. Mary attended Wichita schools, Wichita University and University of Kansas.

Mary married Bromleigh (Brom) Lamb, her highschool boyfriend in 1949. They lived in Topeka, Kansas, Sioux City, Iowa, Eugene and Salem, Oregon. They have 5 children, 5 grandsons and 2 great-grandchildren. A daughter and son live in Portland. Their other three live in Canada, Phoenix, Arizona and Everett, Washington.

Mary taught in the Salem public school for 17 years. Her special interests are early childhood education, League of Women Voters and traditional quilts and their history. Mary has been on the social committee for a year and will be a co-chair this year.

Sharon Bourque

Frances Sessions

Frances grew up in a suburb of Cincinnati. She graduated from Washington University of Medicine in St. Louis and interned in Chicago. She took leave for five years to be with her children before taking a psychiatry residency at the Oregon State Hospital in Salem. She practiced at OSH for 29 years. Her specialty was forensic psychiatry. For the last few years before she retired, she was the Chief Medical Officer of OSH.

Her hobby is knitting; she belongs to a weekly knitting group. She is an excellent cook, loves to collect recipes and cook books, is an avid reader, loves crosswords and jigsaw puzzles. and has an interest in theater, cinema, concerts, opera and art.

Frances has been RAPSU Secretary, Treasurer and Social Chair.

MEMBER OUTREACH: Eileen Elliot

Eileen Elliot, RAPSU Member Outreach Chair, has worked her way cross country from the N.J.-NYC area to Seattle. Twelve years after retirement as Executive Director of Tallmadge Hamilton House, Eileen moved to Portland to be nearer family members. She enjoys caring for her grandnieces, described as being creative free-spirited individuals who keep "Auntie" hopping!
Transition to Portland was extremely easy as there is much opportunity to meet interesting people through auditing PSU classes, volunteering in English as a second language and belonging to organizations such as RAPSU.

INTERIM WEBMASTER: David Sessions

David grew up in La Grange, IL. He graduated from Princeton before attending Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis where he met and married his classmate Frances Pope. After internship in Chicago David took a pediatric residency at Oregon Health and Science University. After two years in the Army as Chief of Pediatrics at Mc Donald Army Hospital in Virginia, he returned to Oregon where he was a partner in the Salem Pediatric Clinic for 30 years.

Upon retiring in 1994 he and Frances moved to Portland. They have three children and five grandchildren. Two of their children live in Portland and one in New Jersey. He is an amateur photographer and loves to work with his computer. He and Frances are interested in theater, cinema, symphony, opera and art.

David has been RAPSU President, Newsletter Editor, Treasurer and Membership List Keeper.

SENIOR ADULT LEARNING CENTER COORDINATOR (SALC Advisor to RAPSU): Dr. Jost Lottes

Jost is the Program Director of SALC. The coordinator is an ex-officio member of RAPSU and serves in an advisory capacity.

Jost came from Munich to Portland and PSU in 1999. He graduated in 2004. He then earned his Ph.D. in Gerontology from PSU's School of Urban Studies and Planning. His dissertation focused on valuation methods for informal elder care, and the positive aspects of caregiving. Jost also has an M.B.A from PSU's School of Business Administration. Jost's research interests include employment of older adults, informal caregiving (with an emphasis on balancing caregiving and work), econometrics, and work and family. Jost teaches classes in social gerontology, economics of aging, and organizational theory.

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RAPSU BOARD AND COMMITTEE BIOGRAPHIES

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