C. Calvert Knudsen

C. Calvert KNUDSEN 1923 ~ 2009 Lawyer, Lumberman, Winemaker, Farmer and Civic Leader C. Calvert Knudsen, former Chairman and CEO of MacMillan Bloedel, was remembered this week by friends and family as a man curious and optimistic about the world. He died peacefully at home in Palm Springs, California of complications from cancer on April 24, 2009. He was 85. Cal Knudsen was born in 1923 in Tacoma, Washington and built his life and career in the Pacific Northwest. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1948 and from its law school in 1950 after which he joined the law firm of Bogle, Bogle & Gates in Seattle where he practiced law for 10 years and became a partner. In 1960 Mr. Knudsen started a long and successful relationship with the forest products industry culminating in 1976 with his election as President and Chief Executive Officer (and later, Chairman) of MacMillan Bloedel. He retired from active management at MacMillan Bloedel in 1983 and continued as Vice Chairman of the Board until 1990. In addition to his corporate pursuits Mr. Knudsen developed Knudsen Vineyards and the Knudsen-Erath wine label in Dundee, Oregon in the early 1970's. He was a pioneer and leader in the industry's development and he contributed to the Willamette Valley of Oregon becoming one of the great wine regions of our time. Mr. Knudsen was also an owner/director of The Ostrom Company, the largest provider of fresh mushrooms in the Puget Sound area. Mr. Knudsen served on many boards of directors during his life. These included Cascade Corporation, West Fraser Timber, I.P. Callison & Sons, Rainier Bank, Safeco and The Space Needle Company, among others. In addition, he served as chair of the Board of Trustees of the Seattle Art Museum and was a director of the Museum Development Authority. He served as a director of the Washington Research Foundation since 1983. Mr. Knudsen's wife of 40 years, Julia Lee Roderick Knudsen, died in 1990. He is survived by his loving companion, Sally Phinny, Seattle and Palm Springs, CA his sister, Joan Ameday (Al), Bermuda Dunes, CA and Seattle, and a niece, Shannon O'Leary (Jerry), Scottsdale, AZ; his four children: Calvert Conrad Knudsen, Woodinville, WA; Page Knudsen Cowles (Jay), St. Paul, MN; Colin Roderick Knudsen (Rita), New York, NY; David Callison Knudsen (Claudia), Paige, TX; and eight grandchildren: Andrew Knudsen; Lucia, Colin and Maxwell Cowles; and Abigail, Charles, Colin Walker and Peter Knudsen. A reception was held at his home in Palm Springs on Sunday April 26, 2009. A memorial service will be held at St. Marks Cathedral in Seattle on Tuesday, May 12th at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Seattle Art Museum or the University of Washington Law School, in memory of C. Calvert Knudsen.