Gene Deschamps Obituary

Gene Deschamps

Gene Deschamps passed away on his 83rd birthday on Dec 24, 2010. Born in 1927 in Oregon City, OR to Andrew and Anna Deschamps, he grew up in West Linn, OR with his brother Theodore. His close proximity to the Willamette River inspired his love of fishing and the outdoors. Gene served in the Navy during WWII in San Diego, CA. He then finished his BS and MS in Marine Biology and Fisheries at OSU in 1950 and 1952. During this time he also worked for the US Fish and Wildlife Service in Alaska as a biology aide. After graduating, he began his career with the Washington State Dept of Fisheries in Aberdeen as an aquatic biologist. He later moved to Olympia and continued working for the Dept of Fisheries as an expert in Salmon Habitat Management, serving as an advisor on projects such as the Shoreline Management Act. When Mt. St. Helens erupted in 1980, Gene served as a key advisor on environmental impacts on aquatic life in the Toutle River. Gene retired in 1982 after 30 years of state service but continued to pursue his passion for salmon habitat preservation by assisting the Chehalis Tribe in managing their salmon runs, and serving on various shoreline and wetlands advisory committees throughout the decade. Other than many awards in his field, Gene will be remembered for his great wit, kind demeanor, knowledge of biology and history and his love of the outdoors. He also loved sports and supported his daughters in pursuit of all their athletic events by attending every meet, game, and regatta he possibly could from middle school through college. He is survived by his former wife, Carol Deschamps, his daughters Anna Harness and Elaine Deschamps, and grandchildren Gabriella and Andrew Harness. A celebration of Gene's life will be scheduled at a later date.

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Published by The Olympian on Jan. 20, 2011.

Memories and Condolences
for Gene Deschamps

5 Entries

January 24, 2011

Similar to some of the other bios, I also got started at WDF at Aberdeen under Gene's supervision. I was lucky, getting 2 years of a variety of work with Gene, often working long but satisfying hours. He had a positive influence with people he contacted gaining their respect and confidence. People valued his opinion both inside and outside the Dept. Gene also knew how to have fun and was very generous. I recall one weekend when he was steelheading by himself on a Coastal river putting a prime 22 pounder on the bank. One of the first things he did when getting home was to call me with the news, giving me the exact location, time, lure, etc. Without being asked, he volunteered all the details. Who else would have done that? No secrets, and so unselfish. We and the resources he protected are now better off as a result of his many years of dedicated service. Grant Fiscus

fiscus

Mary Lou Mills

January 23, 2011

I worked with Gene in the Habitat Management Division of WDF. He was a knowledgeable biologist with a dedication to the fish resources of the state. He served as the WDF representative to EFSEC (the Energy Site Evaluation Council) and presided over important cases during that time. He will be remembered as a professional and a gentleman.

Patrick Hanratty

January 21, 2011

I interacted with Gene for a short time when he was with the Chehalis Tribe as their consulting Bio. WDF was doing an independent mark/recapture study on Chehalis coho escapements and needed to sample the tribal fishery & coordinate stream surveys. He was a true gentleman, very helpfull, & great to work with.

Pat Hanratty

Millard S. Deusen

January 21, 2011

Gene was also my first boss. In 1975 Gene hired me as a Fish Biologist in the Department of Fisheries and took me under his wing. He was a great mentor to me sharing his vast knowledge of salmon habitat and habitat and fish management. I alway felt that Gene was the key that opened the door to my career with the Department of Fisheries and the Department of Fish and Wildlife. His humor, wit and gentle character made the tough times better and the good times wonderful. I will always remember Gene as the gentle, caring, and dedicated man that he was.

Duane Phinney

January 20, 2011

Gene was my first boss at WDF when I went to work for him in Aberdeen. He was a great mentor--for me and several other biologists who began their fish biologist career inder Gene. I'll always remember him for that and for his off-the-wall cartoons that he liked to draw. I'll always remember one that showed several sportfishemen fishing from tents crowded together along a river bank. The caption was, of course "The fishing was in-tents." Happy fishing, Gene.

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