Gary Whelan

 Gary David Whelan was born on June 5, 1936 in Fort Peck, Montana, the eldest of Jane and Russell Whelan's two sons. His family moved to Portland when he and his late brother Patrick were boys. Gary attended Grant High School and Portland State University, and built his career serving the medical community as former Executive Director of both the Oregon Medical Board and the Medical Society of Metropolitan Portland, and as a medical malpractice insurance broker with several firms in the city.

 But the real story is about his love for the Northwest, his family and his many, many friends. A renowned outdoorsman, he was an expert salmon and steelhead fisherman and an active conservationist involved in the Steelheaders Assn. as a past president and a board member, and The Coastal Conservation Assn. where he served on both the Portland Metro Chapter board and the state board.

 His greatest delight was his ever-growing family, and he was never happier than when the grandchildren were playing with "Papa." His 2009 diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease only made him more determined to live life to the fullest.

 Gary passed away on October 14, 2013. But his wife Karyl (Loback), daughters Kathryn Schipper (Steve), Elizabeth Trelstad and Laura Ballard (Bo), sons Sean (Melissa Panico) and Scott (Jane O’Leary), and grandchildren Mary Jane, Emily, Caroline, Andrew, Charlie, Signe, Oscar, Gabriel and Jake know he's still with us. He’s not just in our hearts and faces and names, but in our way of seeing the world. He taught all of us to savor and appreciate the world and the people around us and to see the best in everyone and the good side of everything. His only true enemy was Parkinson's Disease, which he fought with everything he had to the very end.

 Gary is also survived by his brother’s children Chris Whelan and Tina Whelan Tracy, and in-laws Jack Loback, and Gail and Carsten Andersen and their children Ashley, Amy and Alex.

 There are no words adequate to express the family’s awe and appreciation of Emanuel Hospital’s neuro/trauma ICU.

 A celebration honoring Gary will be held Saturday, November 16 (Sorry Ducks, but we’ll do our best to have the game on), 3:00 PM at Portland Yacht Club, 1241 NE Marine Drive 97211.  Toasts and tributes to begin at 4:00.

 Donations in Gary’s honor can be made to:

Parkinsons Resources of Oregon

by phone 503.594.0901

online: www.parkinsonsresource.org

by check: 3975 Mercantile Drive, Suite 154 Lake Oswego OR 97035.

 

Northwest Steelheaders Assn

by phone: 503.653.4176

online: www.nwsteelheaders.org

by check: 6641 SE Lake Rd. Milwaukie OR 97222

 

Coastal Conservation Assn.

by check: CCA Oregon, 1006 West 11th Street, Vancouver, WA 98660, Attn: Office Manager

 Please write Gary Whelan on the memo line of any check donations.