Shirley Nyman Pape

Shirley Nyman Pape
1922 - 2021
Born in 1922 on the occasion of her mother's birthday, Shirley - nee: Shirley Olive Nyman (initials SON) - grew up on Day Island in Tacoma, Washington. Her mother, Alma Estelle, delighted in her arrival while her father, Gustave Einar, took great pleasure in telling his friends that his SON had arrived.
With Puget Sound at her backyard her lifelong love of all things nautical was inevitable. Her insatiable thirst for learning earned her valedictorian status at Tacoma's Stadium High School and laid the foundation for her entry as a freshman into Mills College. A year later she matriculated at Stanford University from which she intended to graduate. She returned home, however, after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and enrolled at the University of Washington. During that time she met and married Portlander Lt. H. Dean Pape, a mechanical engineering student at Oregon State College. A short four months after they wed Dean shipped off to England. Shirley returned to UW graduating with a BA in Theater then headed to Los Angeles to audition for radio. Dean's return to the states at war's end altered her radio aspirations. She and Dean moved to and settled in Eugene where Dean joined his brother in the family business known today as The Pape Group. Shirley focused on making a home for her family and caring for their four children. She became involved in many volunteer activities, as well, including Sacred Heart's Hospital Guild and the Eugene Welfare League, the precursor to The Junior League of Eugene.
In the late 50's and with the backing of the Welfare League Shirley co-produced and starred in the weekly children's storybook television show, "The Fairy Tale Princess". It was broadcast on KVAL-TV in Eugene and KPIC-TV in Roseburg. A year later the cast and crew added a second show weekly by trooping it to the top floor of The Bon Marche in downtown Eugene. After the "The Fairy Tale Princess" ran its course, Shirley returned to college earning a Masters' Degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon. Soon thereafter she became Women's Editor for the then newly licensed ABC affiliate, KEZI-TV. She reveled in interviewing local, regional, and national personalities including Broadcast Journalist, Edward R. Morrow; First Lady, Pat Nixon; and Joseph P. Kennedy family matriarch, Rose Kennedy. Keeping the community informed on medical issues earned her the Oregon Medical Association's annual award for excellence in medical editorials in 1965. 'The following year and again in 1975 she received the Mental Health Association's Communication Award. When Shirley was not in the KEZI studio or caring for her family she was in the skies earning her private pilot's license. Then, as her broadcast career came to an end, she returned to the classroom to study the dietary sciences at OSU and OHSU eventually becoming a licensed and practicing Registered Dietician. It was during this time that she and Dean moved from Eugene to Portland.
Her children grown and with all the enthusiasm in her adventurous soul, Shirley travelled the world as much as possible with her husband and, after his death, extensively with the Stanford Alumni Association, her children, grandchildren, and all great-grandchildren old enough to participate. Cruising rivers, lakes, oceans, and seas were always her favorite. When she was not travelling, Shirley enjoyed playing duplicate bridge where she earned Grand Master's status from the American Contract Bridge League. She also took great joy in establishing The Pape Family Foundation and working with Oregon State University on the construction of a Campanile on the Quad in Dean's memory. Once these projects could stand on their own she directed her attention to The Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation working with the Board of Directors to establish The Pape Family Pediatric Research Institute. Whenever possible, she loved spending time at her La Jolla home, attending performing arts events, reading, walking, entertaining, and all things family and friends, not necessarily in that order.
Preceded in death by her husband, Dean, in 1996 and son, Randy Pape, in 2008 Shirley is survived by her daughter, Dian Pape Tooke, sons Gary Pape, Terry Pape and wife, Vicki, daughter-in-law, Susie Pape, 14 grandchildren, and 25 great-grandchildren. At Shirley's request no public memorial service will take place, however, for those who wish to send memorials, please do so to:
The Pape Family Pediatric Research Institute
Doernbecher Children's Hospital Foundation
1121 S.W. Salmon Street Ste 100
Portland, OR 97205
https://www.onwardohsu.org – select: Heal Kids
or call: 503-294-7101
Her family would like to recognize and thank the incredible staff at Mirabella Portland, the remarkable caregivers from No Worries Premier In-home Care, and the calming presence of Providence Hospice for going the extra mile to care for Shirley in the final chapter of her life. Further, we appreciate beyond words the consistent and continuous hands-on love and care given to Shirley by family members: son, Gary Pape and granddaughter, Abigail Pape, M.D.
Please sign the guest book at www.registerguard.com/legacy