David McNeil | Nov. 5, 1951–Nov. 1, 2016

David W. F. McNeil passed away unexpectedly Nov. 1. David was born in Boston, Mass. to Susan Young McNeil and Willard Francis McNeil. His formative years were spent in Needham and Boxford, MA. In 1980 he graduated from Lewis and Clark Law School and became a member of the Oregon State Bar in May 1981. David married his sweetheart, Linda Fisk McNeil in 1981. They were happily married 35 years. Twin sons Matthew and Jacob joined them in 1990. David was a devoted and loving husband and father.

David joined the Mazamas in 1978, and made many lifelong friends. He was active in the rock, mountaineering, and ice climbing programs as both a Climb Leader and Advanced Climbing Instructor. David was at one time a member of Portland Mountain Rescue, and was among the searchers in the Oregon Episcopal School tragedy in 1986. He climbed many peaks and rock faces in the Northwest and Yosemite Valley and attempted two peaks in Mexico.

In September 2016 he climbed Chief Joseph Mt. (Joseph, OR) and Sharp Top in Virginia. He also loved bicycling, skiing, running, ice-skating, and inline racing. In 1974 he rode his bicycle 2600 miles (solo) in the Western US. He also cycled from Portland, Oregon to Washington, DC, in 1987, with long time Mazama friend David Schermer. In 1979 he ran in the Portland Marathon. In 2000 David set a goal of running 2000 miles and ran the final leg on December 31.

A Celebration of Life service will be held for David McNeil on Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 2 p.m., at New Hope Community Church, 11731 SE Stevens Rd, Happy Valley, OR 97086.

Paul Herner | June 22, 1936–Feb. 18, 2017

Paul Herner was born in Pomona, California in June of 1936. He attended the US Naval Academy and graduated in 1958. Paul then moved to Oregon and worked for the Forest Service designing roads and campgrounds in the Oregon Cascades. He joined the Mazamas in 1968, became a climb leader, served on Executive Council and was Mazamas President in 1978-79. He continued to climb mountains as long as he was able because, in his words, "as long as us Mazamas are climbing we're not over the hill yet."

Paul retired in 1994 after 27 years at the Bonneville Power Administration. He then traveled the United States in a motorhome, doing volunteer trail building and maintenance in National Parks and Forests as the opportunity arose. In 2015 he was recognized by Portland Public Parks for his years of volunteer gardening at the Peninsula Park Rose Garden.

Paul passed away peacefully on February 18. As a celebration of his life there will be a special free ethnic Scandinavian dance on Monday, April 17 from 8:30–10 p.m. at Nordia House, 8800 SW Oleson Road in Portland.