William R. Pool

William Robert Pool, 77 years old, died on Sunday May 25th at his home in Portland Oregon. Bill was born in Fort Lauderdale, Florida to Robert Arthur Pool and Marjorie Wylam Pool on May 14th, 1937. He is survived by his sister Betty Ann, 4 children, 6 grandchildren and has one great grandchild on the way. Bill was a Pompano Beanpicker football player and married his high school sweetheart, Mary Ann McClave. Bill and Mary Ann were together 55 years and raised four children, Mike, Bob, Karen and David. They shared an adventure filled life that traversed the country and the world. They lived in Florida, New Jersey, Illinois, France, New York, Wyoming, California and Hood River, Oregon. After Mary Ann passed away, Bill spent his last years in Portland, Oregon where he found the love of a dear woman and friend, Mary Kay King. Bill was a devoted scientist who earned his PhD in Physiology and Biochemistry from Florida State University. As a leading toxicologist, he helped develop many beneficial drugs including the first water soluble benzodiazapine (Versed). He worked throughout his life to make the world a better place. Bill was an avid outdoorsman and athlete. He loved to ski, hike, bicycle, run, play tennis and was game for trying most anything. He loved to travel and meet people, he loved food from around the world. Beyond anything else, he loved his family dearly and was deeply loved and respected in return by both family and friends. Bill's ashes will be scattered by his family in the beautiful mountains surrounding Jackson Hole, Wyoming, beside those of his wife Mary Ann. Donations accepted in his name at ColumbiaLandTrust.org