the importance of early childhood education. Dick served as an OES trustee from 1995-2004, and as president of the Board from 199-2003, helping to implement the building of the Middle School and the Drinkward Center, among other accomplishments. Alexander is survived by his wife of 33 years, Carilyn; daughter, Courtney Alexander Dodson of Virginia; daughter, Whitney Alexander ’00 of Eugene; sister, JoAnne Roe of Gibson, Tenn.; grandchildren, Charles and Samantha; and son-in- law, Robert Dodson of Virginia; and numerous nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by his parents and his sister, Patricia Harvey. A celebration of Richard Alexander’s life was held on the OES campus on October 20.


SELWYN BINGHAM Selwyn “Bing” Bingham died April 25, 2013. He was an OES trustee from 1976


to 1984 and president of the Board of Trustees from 1980 to 1983. Bing served as president of the Multnomah Athletic Club, and he was president of The Arlington Club, where he orchestrated the necessary votes to allow female membership. Selwyn served on the board of William Temple House, Good Samaritan Hospital, The Racquet Club, and Waverley Country Club. His contributions to Self Enhancement Inc. and Play Write fostered the belief in lifting spirits and restoring hope to young people. Bing was a 1953 graduate of Lincoln High School and a 1957 graduate of Stanford University. He served in the Oregon Air National Guard (1958-62). During his 56 years of commitment,


Bingham Construction (founded 1884) completed commercial construction statewide. Selwyn leaves behind his children, Selwyn “Bing” Bingham ’81 and Leslie Connelly; his brothers, Stuart Bingham and Clark Bingham; sisters-in-law, Jackie Bingham and Eliza Livingston; five grandchildren, two of whom attend OES; and his significant other, Carol Ihlenburg.


GORDON JANNEY Gordon died on February 12, 2013. He was preceded in death by his


wife of 51 years, Marion Janney. Father of three OES alumni—sons Philip ’76, Russell ’80, and Peter ’83—Gordon was also a leadership volunteer, serving two terms on the OES Board of Trustees in the 1970s. Gordon served in the Army Air Corps aboard a B-25 bomber in the Pacific during World War II. Following his military service, he attended the University of Oregon where he pledged the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. After college, Gordon embarked on a business career in the field of sales as a manufacturer’s representative, eventually co-founding Representatives Northwest Inc. In addition to OES, Gordon was involved with Boy Scouts of America, All Saints Episcopal Church, University of Oregon Foundation, his University of Oregon ATO Fraternity Chapter, and the William Temple House. He was a lifelong member of the Multnomah Athletic Club, an avid outdoorsman, a golfer, and a Ducks supporter.


JOHN LAUERMAN John Lauerman, former OES director of development,


passed away on Thanksgiving Day surrounded by his family at his home in Bend after a long illness. John worked at OES from 1996 to 2005. John was an alumnus of Shattuck School in Faribault, Minnesota, and Saint John’s University in Collegeville, Minnesota. He served four years in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany and with the Southern European Task Force in Italy. He was honorably discharged as a captain in 1970. He met his wife, Christina, in Italy where she was teaching in the Department of Defense overseas teaching program. They were married in Vicenza, Italy, in July of 1970. He will be remembered for his storytelling, his sense of humor, and as a man who loved people. Most of all, he will be remembered as a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.


ELENORA PURDY Elenora died on February 17, 2013, after a lengthy illness.


She was mother to alumnae/i Nancy Purdy Letson SHH ’70 and Peter Purdy BDH ’72. Elenora was a board member from 1982 through 1985, and she was a longtime volunteer and supporter with her husband, Ellsworth. She graduated from Jefferson High School and attended Oregon State College, where she joined the Alpha Chi Sorority. Elenora married Ellsworth D. Purdy on July 10, 1948, and they shared over 64


years as husband and wife. After Ellsworth graduated from Oregon State, they moved from Corvallis to Portland to Mock’s Crest, before moving to Vancouver in the late 1950s. Elenora was talented and energetic. She was active as a donor and volunteer in numerous organizations through the years including Multnomah Athletic Club, The Royal Rosarians, St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Easter Seal Society, Friends of Hospice, St. Luke’s Altar Guild, William Temple House, The Island School (Kauai), St. Andrew’s Pantry, and OES.


ELSA ERCEG WARNICK Former faculty member and Portland artist Elsa Warnick died peacefully the


evening of March 6, 2013. She is survived by her two sons, Matt and Milan Erceg, and her two brothers, Jack and Fred Warnick of Tacoma. Born and raised in Tacoma, Elsa moved to Portland to attend the Reed College/Museum Art School joint five-year program. She taught at OES in the 1960s and ’70s, and she is remembered fondly for her ability to impart her love of art to all the students she touched. Elsa went on to create many works of art as well as to teach art and illustration in the Portland area. She is mostly known for her watercolor paintings covering many commercial areas including the illustration of several children’s books. She had a passion for life and all its wonders as well as its imperfections.


Summer 2013 37


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