Kate McCarthy | 1917–2015

by Barbara Weiss

Feisty. Passionate. Zealous. Determined.

Conservationist, founder, wife, mother, photographer and public speaker.

Kate McCarthy was all this, and more. McCarthy, a long-time Mount Hood resident and ardent advocate for protecting the mountain’s wilderness, died Tuesday, November 3 at the age of 98.

“I come to my love of ‘The Mountain’ honestly, as I was born in the shadow of Mt. Hood,” McCarthy wrote in a biographical statement given to the Mazamas on the advent of her induction as an honorary Mazama member in 2002.

In 1907, McCarthy’s father and lifetime Mazama member, Homer Rogers, settled on land four miles south of Parkdale. McCarthy spent most of her summers at home near Parkdale, but then moved to Portland during the school year to attend Miss Catlin’s School for Girls (founded by her great aunt, now Catlin Gable School.) During her high school years she and her younger sister ran a summer camp for girls on the family property.

After high school McCarthy attended Reed College, Yale Nursing School and Graduate School at Oregon Health Sciences University. In 1943 she married Gerald McCarthy. They raised four sons in the Seattle-Tacoma area and Roseburg, before returning to Parkdale in 1968 where she remained for the rest of her life.

In a 1996 Hood River News article about the 10th anniversary of the National Scenic Act, McCarthy wrote, “When it comes to the Gorge, my enthusiasm knows no bounds. We have a treasure in our midst, almost beyond comprehension, with such a variety of resources – visual, botanical, geological, historical.”

It was that boundless enthusiasm and deep respect for the natural world that drove McCarthy’s involvement with many conservation organizations including the Columbia Gorge Commission, Oregon Natural Resources Council (now Oregon Wild), and 1000 Friends of Oregon. McCarthy was a founding member of Friends of Mount Hood; she served on the boards of the Oregon Environmental Council and Friends of the Columbia River Gorge. After McCarthy’s son Mike returned to Hood River with his family, he became an active conservation in his own right. Together, Kate and Mike and other concerned citizens, founded the Hood River Valley Residents Committee, a land use and environmental group focused on promoting intelligent planning and natural resource protection.

Mazama member, Vera Dafoe recalls working closely with McCarthy on the designation of the Columbia River Gorge as a National Scenic Area. “Kate and I were on the Oregon-based Columbia Gorge Commission in the late 1970s. There was also a seven-person Washington-based Columbia Gorge Commission,” said Dafoe. “We were the only serious environmentalists on the commissions. We believed a bi-state management system would not work because of different regulations in the states. We argued for federal management.”

When the governors of both states requested reports from the commissions to take to Congress regarding the Gorge, the assumption was that both commissions would support bi-state management.
Dafoe and McCarthy wrote a minority opinion for the Oregon commission in support of federal management. “Much to our amazement, when the voting happened at the big public meeting, our minority recommendation for federal management became the Oregon Columbia Gorge Commission’s advisory recommendation to Governor Vic Atiyeh. We had won!”

Another of McCarthy’s staunch environmental efforts includes her decade’s long role as a watchdog over Mt. Hood Meadows Ski Resort’s ongoing development efforts. In 1975, McCarthy began to photograph the impact of man-made development on Mt. Hood in an effort to galvanize support for protecting what remains of the mountain’s wild habitat. Her photos provided Mazamas and other groups with material upon which formal appeals of the resort’s expansion plans have been based. A 2002 article in the online version of High Country News, by Ted Katauskas, describes McCarthy’s two-hour slide show as “a photographic indictment of the developer’s environmental sins on the other side of the mountain: wildflower meadows entombed in asphalt, streams clogged with silt, oil, and logs, an alpine forest of rare Whitebark pine clear-cut for a ski run, denuded slopes ravaged by runoff.”

Monica Reid, a longtime friend of McCarthy, (as quoted in the November 6, Hood River News) said that, “Kate was truly a remarkable woman who worked tirelessly to conserve and protect the Oregon landscapes that we love and cherish.” All of us in Oregon, whether Mazamas or not, hikers, climbers, lovers of our great mountain wilderness—we have all benefitted from Kate McCarthy’s lasting legacy. While we may mourn her passing and celebrate her profound accomplishments—the very least we can do is continue to be good stewards of the land she loved and carry her legacy forward.

Gary L. Beck, May 21, 1942 - June 15, 2015

by Wendy Carlton & Al Hansen

We have lost a climbing partner, a mentor, a friend who made us laugh, and who brought out the best in us.  Gary Beck moved on the next big adventure on June 15, 2015.

Gary Beck on the summit of Mt. Hood in the early '70s.

We attended Gary’s memorial service and were left with a sense of awe of this dear man who we knew as a climbing partner and dear friend, but he was so much more in his life.  He was a renowned climber, a wonderful, caring teacher, a dedicated husband, father and grandfather, a musician, an expert in his chosen profession, a life-long learner, an adventurer in the best sense of the word!

Gary joined the Mazamas in 1969.  He was a climb leader for 35 years -- from 1976 to 2011!  He taught countless basic school groups.  He led many climbs, and outings around the world.  He received the Guardian Peaks award in 1970, Oregon Cascades Award in 1972, and the 16 Peaks award in 1974. He served two terms on the Mazama Executive Council and was President in 2005.

Gary rapelling the Golden Cathedral. He described
this as one of his favorite moments.

After summiting virtually every peak worth climbing in the Northwest, Gary turned his attention to other adventures. But he couldn’t get climbing out of his blood, so he “summited” two of the hardest bicycle rides in the world, L’ Alpe d’Huez and Mont Ventoux in France. He rode 7 Cycle Oregon’s and completed week long rides in Idaho, Colorado and Wyoming. In addition, he rode the entire White Rim road in Canyonlands National Park on a mountain bike!  After climbing “up” for most of his life he discovered climbing “lower” was fun too. He took up canyoneering and made numerous trips to Southern Utah exploring slot canyons. His favorite included a rappel through the famous Golden Cathedral in Neon Canyon. Gary also rafted the Grand Canyon and enjoyed skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and backpacking.

When Gary wasn't off on an adventure, he enjoyed keeping his yard in picture perfect form, singing with Festival Chorale Oregon, working with the Institute of Continued Learning at Willamette University, attending music concerts and spending time with his family and friends.
And he did it all with humor, a bit of irreverence and a complete lack of pretense.  Gary leaves behind a legacy of climb leaders, and many, many more who love to climb and travel because they learned from the best.  Gary’s zeal for life inspires us to fully live our lives fully -- to do all those things on our bucket list!  The following quote describes Gary’s life perfectly!

Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, scotch in the other, body thoroughly used up, totally worn out and screaming “WOO HOO what a ride!”

Rick Posekany | May 2, 1952 - June 2, 2015

Rick Posekany on Mt. Jefferson. Photo: Karin Mullendorf

Richard Leo Posekany, Jr. (Rick) was born to Richard and Patricia Whalen Posekany in Coos Bay, OR on May 2, 1953. He attended Elkton and Mill City Elementary Schools, graduating from Santiam High School as Valedictorian in 1971. While at the University of Oregon, he joined Sigma Chi Fraternity. He later studied forestry at the Chemeketa Community College.

Rick was a forester for Frank Lumber Company, Freres Lumber Company, and the US Forest Service. He lived and worked at the Detroit Ranger Station, was very active in the Santiam Canyon community, and served on the school board for over ten years.

A lifetime Hoodoo downhill skier, Rick has been a part of the Santiam Pass Ski Patrol since 1975. In 1983, he received his National Ski Patrol appointment. He was an instructor with the SPSP, earning the Oregon Outstanding Mountaineering Instructor Award and the Pacific NW Outstanding Mountaineering Instructor Award.

"Posey" fell in love with mountain climbing at the age of 13 and joined the Mazamas in 1973. During the years 1980-2011 as a Mazama leader, he lead 59 climbs and received the Guardian Peak and the Seven Oregon Summits Awards. The peaks of the Cascades were Rick's playgrounds. Always in search of greater challenges, Rick has summitted the peaks of Kilimanjaro, Denali, and Aconcagua. He returned several times as guide of his own enterprise, “Santiam Alpine Guides.”

Rick Posekany was preceded in death by his father, Richard Sr., earlier this year.

Rick is survived by his mother Patricia, step mother Phyllis, daughters Carri and Shauna, son Scott, grandchildren Ethan, Shaylee, Paige and Olivia, sisters Kim and Jean, brother Robert, step brothers Thom, Bob and Larry, nephews Graham, Daniel, Patrick and Joshua, nieces Amber and Cathryn, and his trusty dog, Sam.

Posey will be remembered for his integrity, his smile, his strength and energy, his enthusiasm, his great teaching and mentoring skills, his cheerful willingness to help others, his awesome beard, and his big loving heart.

In celebration of a life very well lived, a memorial service will be held June 19, at 2 p.m. at the Santiam High School in Mill City.

Ralph Lee Bunnell | Sep. 6, 1923 - Jan. 20, 2015

Ralph Lee Bunnell was born in Portland on August 6, 1923 to Albert and Grace Bunnell.

He was predeceased by brothers Albert and Phillip and sister Bertha. Married to Helen Janes in 1967, she passed away in 1984.

Ralph attended and graduated from SMU and the U of O. Ralph served his country during World War II in the Navy.

Ralph was a long time member of the Mazamas, Toastmasters and a world traveler. He was an Electrical Engineer for the Bonneville Power Administration.

Ralph is survived by brother Preston, nephew Albert, Niece Chandelle and niece Lisa Janes-McNabb.

Committal Services with Military Honors will be held March 12, 2015 at 2 p.m. at Willamette National Cemetery, Portland, Oregon.

Hannah Gage Haselton May | March 30, 1911 - Feb. 2, 2015

from The Oregonian

Hannah Gage Haselton May passed gently Feb. 2, 2015, from her 103-year-old body. Prior to entering hospice care two weeks ago, Hannah led a weekly writing group at Terwilliger Plaza, where she resided since 1999, and was engaged in many other activities over the years. She was also an active participant in a Women's Spirit Circle that met monthly for more than 20 years.

On the occasion of their 100th birthday in 2011, she and her twin sister, Elizabeth Webb, were featured in an Oregonian article in which Hannah credited their long lives to the "salubrious air" of their childhood home near Underwood, Wash.

She and Elizabeth attended Willamette University during the Depression and later, Hannah completed her B.A. from Portland State University. She married Clarence B. May in 1939, and they became the proud parents of Dora R. Reader of Ann Arbor, Mich., and Cynthia M. Gage of Portland. Hannah was honored to be the grandmother of Lynn Corliss-Burnham and Whitney Passino, and the delighted great-grandmother of Joshua Passino and John Burnham.

She was preceded in death by her brother, Amedee; sister, Elizabeth; and husband, "CB." In addition to her daughters, Hannah is survived by her nieces, Elizabeth McMullen and Dorothy Herbst of Portland, Margie Tucker of Harrington, Del., and Janice Payne of Haley, Idaho and their respective spouses; and numerous great nieces and nephews.

An environmental activist long before that title existed, Hannah was a Hoyt Arboretum guide, acquainting elementary school groups with the wonders of nature. She was a steadfast member of the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

Following the death of her husband, Hannah joined the Mazamas (Hannah joined the Mazamas in 1964 and had achieved her 50-year membership in 2014). She took great pride and joy in climbing Mt. Hood and hiked extensively throughout the Northwest. After her retirement from Portland Public Schools, where she served for 27 years as a secretary to the Social Work Department, Hannah and her brother, Amedee, built a retreat cabin by hand in Ocean Park, Wash.

Hannah's love and reverence for the Earth may have only been exceeded by her love of life itself. While she embraced a number of religious affiliations throughout her lifetime, she was most actively involved in the Methodist faith, where she was instrumental in bringing innovative programs to the United Methodist Women at Rose City Park. Hannah May touched uncountable lives in immeasurable ways and she will be truly missed.

A celebration of her life is planned for 10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 16, 2015, at Terwilliger Plaza. A family-only interment will be in Riverview Cemetery. Rather than flowers, memorial contributions will be welcomed by the Friends of the Columbia Gorge.

http://obits.oregonlive.com/obituaries/oregon/obituary.aspx?n=hannah-gage-haselton-may&pid=174106959&eid=sp_shareobit#sthash.poSr1XpA.dpuf

Dasán Shantidas Marshall | June 30, 1990 - Jan.18, 2015

At 24, Dasan passed away doing what he loved, climbing mountains. On January 18th, while climbing Mt. Yukla, Dasan slipped and fell to his death. Mt. Yukla is located just outside of Anchorage, Alaska, where Dasan was Majoring in Outdoor Studies at Alaska Pacific University. He moved there in 2012, so he could continue his education, both in school and the mountains. His senior project was starting an alpine club for APU students. 

Dasan was also working as an ice climbing guide in the Wrangells and Southcentral Alaska. 

It has been said that Dassan was a student of climbing. If he wasn’t climbing, he was planning his next adventure, reading books, watching videos, or studying maps. That is part of the reason his untimely passing came as such a shock to all who knew him. 

The thing you need to know about Dasan is this: the great outdoors are where he was happiest. His climbing partner on that fateful day remembers hearing Dasan’s laughter fill the mountain air just moments before the fall. He loved the mountains. 

Athough a recent addition to the Mazama family, Dasan was a fixture in the Portland climbing community. He worked two seasons at Mountain Shop, and practically lived at Portland Rock Gym. 

In 2009, Dasan graduated from Portland Waldorf School. The Oregonian wrote, “He was remembered there as an enthusiastic student with an affinity for the outdoors and for art.”

His teacher and academic advisor, Tracy Trefethen, described him perfectly when she said, “With Dasan there was no pretext. There was no mask. He was just himself, and he wasn’t apologetic about it. He could pull it off because he was just so earnest.”

Dana is survived by his parents, Bhadra and Glen, who were very supportive of their son’s passion.

Friends are planning a climb of Mt Hood to celebrate Dasan’s short but full life in May. For more information visit the event page.

Here is a video some of his friends put together to remember him.

Here is a blog post where Jeremy Rooper from the Mountain Shop shared his memory of an adventure with Dasan.

Dasan’s climbing resume:

Ascents of Mt. Hood, Mt. Adams, Mt. Baker, the West Buttress of Denali, multiple routes around Kahiltna Base Camp, Pike Glacier, and more in the Western Chugach.

Ferenc Frank Gabor, M.D. | Feb. 10, 1927 - Feb. 1, 2015

from The Oregonian

Ferenc passed away peacefully at home. Born in Hungary, he finished medical school and left during the Hungarian Revolution of 1956. While in urology residence at McGill University in Montreal, he met and married his wife, Reka. He worked in Alexandria, La., then moved to Portland and joined Kaiser Permanente in 1970.

He was the residency program director in their Urology Dept. from 1974 to 1992, and head of the Urology Dept. at Interstate West until he retired in 1993 after a stroke. Ferenc was an avid folk dancer and skier. He enjoyed mountain climbing with his family and as a lead climber with the Mazamas.

He is survived by his wife, Reka; sons Peter, Frank (Lee Anne) and George (Tish); and grandsons, Nicholas and Noah.

A funeral Mass is planned for 11:30 a.m. Friday, Feb. 6, 2015, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, 3525 SW Patton Road, Portland, OR 97221. In lieu of flowers, please include Ferenc in your prayers.

From Mazamas:
Frank led 17 successful climbs between 1997 and 2000, and assisted with another 4. He assisted a Mt. Jefferson climb via the Milk Creek Glacier when he was 73! He was also a leader with the Basic Climbing Education Program.

Dean D. Lee | Dec. 2, 1941 - Jan. 30, 2015

A Passion for Mountains, Trails and Mazamas

Dean D. Lee of Portland, Oregon died peacefully after succumbing to complications of dementia on Friday January 30, 2015. He was 73 years old.

Dean was born December 2, 1941 in Detroit Lakes, Minnesota to Willard and Evelyn Lee. He was the first born of identical twins – with his brother Dale being the second born twin.

After high school graduation Dean proudly served in the U.S. Navy for three years as a Morse code radio operator. He then graduated from St. Martin’s University in Lacey, WA with a degree in Accounting and retired from the U.S. Forest Service in 2003.

Dean was an active mountain climb leader and
hike leader with the Mazamas – a 120 year-old mountaineering organization based in Portland. When Dean joined the Mazamas in 1991 at the age of 50 he discovered a passion for mountain climbing. He kicked his smoking habit and dove deeply into climbing.

As a climb leader, Dean loved filling his climbs with the maximum amount of 12 people and getting them all to the summit of Northwest mountains such as Mt. Hood, Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Rainer and Mt. Jefferson to name a few.

He was especially careful in always having half of his climbs filled with women as he thought it made the team dynamics more fun and encouraged women to climb. Dean’s climbs and climbing education classes were legendary for their bonding and fun adventures.

Dean enjoyed numerous trips with friends that involved climbing, hiking and trekking in Mexico, the Swiss, French and Austrian Alps, Nepal, Tibet, Scotland, Tanzania and the Dolomites. Fun and laughter seemed to always follow Dean.

When climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro, the Tanzanian porters gave Dean the nickname of “Simba” which means lion in Swahili. Every morning he was awakened by the porters yelling out, “Coffee Simba?”

Dean is survived by his wife, Megan Johnson; his first wife, Ella, and their sons Michael, Darren, and Steven; his brother, Dale (Susan), his younger sister, Judy (Jim) and his younger brother, David (Kim); three grandchildren from Darren and Jodi Lee’s marriage, Haven, Gabriel and Ciena; and many nephews and nieces. Dean’s parents and one younger brother, Robert, preceded him in death.

A private burial service is to be held in Vancouver, WA. A celebration of life will be held from 3pm to 7pm at the Mazama Mountaineering Center on Saturday February 7th, 2015, located at 527 SE 43rd Ave. Portland, OR  97215. In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to the Mazamas.


Dean's Climbing Info:

Dean joined the Mazamas at the age of 50 in 1991. He accumulated his Guardian Peaks Award, 7 Oregon Cascade Peaks Award and the 16 Peaks Award. He graduated from Advanced Rock and Advanced Snow classes and became a climb leader in 1996. In 2002 Dean was awarded the Terry Becker Award from the Climb Committee for leading the 16 Peaks. He led over 70 climbs for the Mazamas while also leading his own BCEP class for ten years. He taught and mentored many current climb leaders and has enjoyed seeing them take leadership roles in the Mazamas.


Dean's Hiking Stats:

Dean is ranked #2 on rambles with 620,
tied for 2nd for most hike leads in one year (101 in 2009-10); first in most street rambles in one year (92 in 2009-10) had the most leads in the decade of 2000-09 with 564 most-active leader 3 years consecutive: 2007-08 (87), 2008-09 (89) and 2009-10 (101)  ...and #2 in 2006-07 (64).

John (Jack) Raymond Weigand | March 9, 1928 - January 5, 2015

Devoted husband, father, and friend Jack passed away peacefully at home on January 5th with his family at his side. With his engineering and finance background Jack enjoyed a long career at Tektronix, and loved to tinker with everything from computers to cars. Jack’s passion in life was the mountain. He scaled Mt. Hood at age 16, joined the Mazamas in 1944, and climbed many other peaks of the Cascades. He had a life-long love of skiing from an early age, and in the 1950s built a cabin in Government Camp, which stands today as his pride and joy. He helped many ski enthusiasts become instructors as the Technical Director of the Ski Bowl Ski School and furthered their careers as the Vice President of Certification of the (then) Pacific Northwest Ski Instructors Association. After retiring from teaching, Jack served as a member of the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol. As a life-long member of the Schnee Vogeli Ski Club Jack shared his passion for skiing at Mt. Hood, and at resorts such as Sun Valley, with many close friends.

Jack is survived by his wife Mary, daughter Lynn (son-in-law Tod), brother Don (wife Shirley) and step-daughters Adonica (husband Tim) and Carinda, and family grandchildren Fallon and Gage, all in the Portland region. He was preceded in death by his first wife Joan. A celebration of his life will take place on Wednesday, January 28 at 4 pm at Westminster Presbyterian Church (1624 NE Hancock, Portland). A mountain gathering will take place on Saturday evening, April 11 at the Mt. Hood Cultural Center and Museum in Government Camp.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Mazamas, Jack Weigand Memorial Fund at www.mazamas.org or the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic through teresa.parks@va.gov or www.wintersportsclinic.org.

Donald W. Benedict | May 10, 1922 - January 3, 2015

(this obituary was submitted by Donald's family)
Donald W. Benedict, formerly of Sacramento, passed away on January 3, 2015. Don worked 28 years for the Office of the Legislative Analyst. He was in charge of formulating the budgets for state resources. Projects included the Central Valley Water Project, the renovation of Cal Expo and the establishment of the CA State Railroad Museum. He received commendations from the CA Legislature for his work. Don was born May 10, 1922 in Mt. Vernon, WA.

He graduated from the Univ. of WA in 1943 and obtained a Masters degree in Public Administration from Wayne State in Michigan. During WWII he served with the U.S. Army Infantry in the Philippines. He worked for the Bonneville Power Admin in OR before starting with the Legislative Analyst’s Office. Don married his wife, Verna, in 1954 and they moved to the South Land Park area of Sacramento. Don designed and constructed the house in which they lived for 45 years, raising 4 children.

They moved to Eskaton Village Carmichael in 2003. He enjoyed tending his large garden of fruits, vegetables and ornamental plants. Don was an active mountain climber and a lifelong member of the Mazamas mountaineering club. In 1955 he received their Sixteen Major Northwest Peaks Award. He was an avid dancer, teaching folk, square and polka dancing, and was an active member and past President of the Sacramento Polka Boosters. Don is survived by his wife Verna, his children Debra (Steve), Susan, Anita and Rusty (Lisa), and his granddaughters Emma and Becca. At Don’s request there will be no formal service. Donations may be made to the charity of the donor’s choice.

Donald was the 61st person to be awarded the Sixteen Major Northwest Peaks Award which he received in 1955. He was a lifetime member of the Mazamas.