People

Peace studies began at the University of Portland in 1975. Fr. Joseph Powers, C.S.C., the then Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, acting as impresario. This program of Interdisciplinary Studies was at first an academic concentration terminating in a certificate, it continues today as the Social Justice Minor, a program of undergraduate study.

Dr. Loretta Zimmerman (History) was the first director; then Dr. Matthew Baasten (Theology), and from 1993-2008 Rev. Claude Pomerleau, C.S.C., (PhD., Political Science) headed Peace Studies, and (later) Social Justice Studies. Fr. Pomerleau died July 21, 2019. He served at the University of Portland until his retirement in 2014 — and of course was still teaching post-retirement, leading students in classroom instruction and discussion through Spring 2019. Retired, but not retiring.

International Relations was his academic box; but of course Fr. Pomerleau’s reflex was to escape pigeonholes and boxes. From his arrival on campus in 1991, his courses were cross-listed with the Peace Studies Program. When he became chair of the Department of History and Political Science he was already Director of Peace Studies (he was chair of Political Science and Director of Peace Studies simultaneously, 1994-2000). He was still Director of Peace Studies when the program was renamed in 2003 and then reimagined in 2006 to incorporate service internships into the curriculum. Fr. Pomerleau continued in the director’s role through 2008. Plus, somehow, while on sabbatical in 2003, he also served as the founding director of “The Department of Diplomacy and International Studies” at Uganda Martyrs University (Kampala); and also also, as visiting professor of International Studies at the University of Chile (IEI) since 1991. Many-sided, Claude preferred international football (Futbol = soccer) to the American game. Yes, Pilots’ Soccer first of all. Many-many-sided. Priest. Teacher. Scholar. Pastoral Resident. Prison Chaplain. Musician. Friend. In every role, an encourager cheering and inspiring others onward.

A model where what is received is handed on with value-added (see, listen, act); what the Holy Cross religious tradition refers to as an Educator in the Faith.

Brian Doyle was recruited to come to the University of Portland and edit Portland Magazine, our alumni newsletter, in 1991.  In his twenty-five years of service, the magazine became an award winning literary journal through essays and profiles highlighting University Events, Accomplishments, Alumni , and all the stories of why the University of Portland is a home and community for students, faculty, and all who belong to the Bluff.

Brian died on May 27, 2017.  He was an award winning editor, a widely published and award winning author, and, for the students who worked at publications and journalism on campus, Brian was a spark, friend, inspiration, and mentor.

He was a pied-piper, who wrote an annual public-service announcement for The Beacon calling students to the vocation of writer, life-participant:

(from January 24, 2013)

Question: you like telling stories, don’t you?  I mean, that’s why you have friends, and that’s why people enjoy your company, and that’s why you enjoy their company, largely because you share stories that make you laugh and think and sometimes even move you to the bottom of your soul.
So why not work for The Beacon?

(answering objections, in January 23, 2014)

I don’t have the time …

Yes, you do.  Look at yourself right now, in those ratty pajamas, watching the “Burn Notice” episode for the ninth time.  Good Lord, man, get out of your room.  And pick up that towel off the floor before you go.

I have no experience…

Yes, you do.  You collect stories.  You share stories. You trade stories.  You remember stories.  You are stories.  Your family, friends, pursuits, thrills, adventures, ambitions, dreams — all stories.  Why not put that curiosity and hunger for stories to work, on, say, the yearbook staff?  Wouldn’t it be cool to try and catch the joys and shivers for a year on The Bluff in stories and photographs and paintings for the Log?

We remember his service at the university primarily through his work as a writer.  Brian Doyle was also a great audience.

http://www.upbeacon.com/article/2017/05/a-few-words-on-brian-doyle-from-a-student

One of Brian’s essays in a Museum blog post, July 16, 2014:
https://sites.up.edu/museum/in-the-beginning-day-one/

Rev. Charles David Sherrer, C.S.C., died at the age of 81 on Holy Thursday, April 13, 2017 at home at Notre Dame surrounded by members of the Congregation of Holy Cross.  Fr. Sherrer studied at Notre Dame as a seminarian, taking his BA in 1958.  He set foot in a UP English classroom for the first time in 1962.  In 2005, he retired from UP, Professor of English and distinguished administrator.  Between these beginnings and ends, Fr. Sherrer did a lot of stuff along the way, but always and first, understood himself as Holy Cross religious, priest, and teacher.

At UP he occupied multiple lecterns.  In classrooms, at many faculty functions, and serving as master of ceremonies for many, many Commencement exercises during the years when Fr. Sherrer carried the duties of Graduate School Dean and, later, Academic Vice President (1987-1995).  A full-professor from 1991 until his retirement. 

Brian Doyle, the editor of Portland Magazine, caught and highlighted the following words in which Fr. Sherrer describes the dynamic and rewards and humility of the teacher’s art:

“Of all the hours in my day the most rewarding are those in class, and it is my conclusion after forty years that it is never a bad day in class as long as I learn something, which I do every class, so there you are.” (Portland Magazine, Spring 2005, p. 13)

(Photos from the University Archives, click on image to enlarge)

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., English professor, 1963

University President, Rev. David Tyson, C.S.C. and Vice Presidents, 1996 Commencement

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., President of Kings College, and lion mascot, 1980 or 81

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., Academic Vice President, ca1996 Commencement

UP Deans Meeting, 1983

Rev David Sherrer, C.S.C., at Desk in Buckley Center, 1974

Rev. David Sherrer, C.S.C., in Chapel of Christ the Teacher, 2015

Rev. David Sherrer, 2005

Rev. Ronald J. Wasowski, C.S.C., associate professor of Environmental Science, passed away unexpectedly the evening of December 5, 2016 at the age of 70; in phased retirement and his last year of classroom teaching.  At UP since 1998, offering general and upper division science courses, and contributing to student life as Mehling Hall Pastoral Resident, Voice for Life Chaplain, and more.

Which sounds sort of ordinary, maybe even dull.  How about this?  For the past three years, Fr. Wasowski was part of the University of Portland archaeological team, the Pollentia expedition, spending part of each summer in Mallorca, Spain.  The excavation is uncovering a Roman-era city.   Fr. Wasowski’s contribution to the team was the use of drones in Archaeology (tracing the outlines of city-walls, building foundations, and streets from the air), and nick-named “Father Drone” by expedition colleagues.  He flew drones and taught classes where students spend class-time and homework FLYING camera-drones.  Helicopter camera-drones, all too cool for the catalogue, where the course title is listed as ENV 384 / BIO 384 / CE 458 Remote Sensing and Geographic Information Systems, listed within the academic degree concentration Quantitative and Spatial Methods, which also requires course-work in Vector Calculus and Ordinary Differential Equations (bring on the drone lab).

He also knew far too much about rocks, minerals, meteor showers, and regular weather.  Sharing enthusiasm and abiding inquiry with students and friends both.

Fr. Wasowski taught at the University of Notre Dame, King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, and the University of Portland, earning tenure twice (he departed Notre Dame when their Earth Sciences/Geology program folded).

Clark Library Digital Collection about the 2015 Pollentia Expedition
http://up.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/landingpage/collection/p16472coll4

Fr. Ron Wasowski’s Aerial Photography – 2015 Pollentia Expedition
http://up.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/search/collection/p16472coll4/searchterm/Aerial%20Photography/field/subjec/mode/all/conn/and/order/nosort

Photo gallery, click to enlarge images

Father Ron Wasowski, C.S.C. with Drone, Pollentia Expedition (Maria Erb photo)

Holy Cross First Profession Class (Back row, 3rd from left, next to Tom Oddo), 1966 (University Archives)

Fr. Wasowski with a drone, Pollentia Expedition, 2015 (Clark Library digitial collections)

Back row: David Kroon, Lewis Lum, Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., Rev. John Kurtzke, C.S.C., Front row: William Fuller, Michael Akerman, David Cresap, Steven Vegdahl, 1998 (University Archives)

Holy Cross Retreat at Mt. Angel Abbey Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., Rev. James Connelly, C.S.C., Rev. James Lies, C.S.C., 1998 (University Archives)

Rev. Ronald Wasowski, C.S.C., 1998 (University Archives)

Fr. Ron Wasowski, Junior Parents Weekend Mass, 2013 (Marketing & Communications)

Fr. Joseph P. Browne, C.S.C., died Sunday, October 30, 2016 at Notre Dame at the age of 87.   He gave many years of faithful service at the University of Portland, most notably as director of the Clark Library.

Ordained a Holy Cross priest in 1955, Fr. Browne’s academic career began as an instructor in moral theology at Holy Cross College (Washington, DC).  He was, however, the newest and latest hire, and so, as he reports with a continuing sense of question and whimsy, “it fell to me to take classes at nearby Catholic University where they had a School of Library Science”.  His superiors having read in his character and talents the future of a professionally-trained librarian.   As a newly minted librarian he was sent on his way to UP and the University’s library science program.  Two years later he was named University Librarian upon the retirement of Br. David Martin, C.S.C.; a position Fr. Browne was to hold twice — 1966 to 1970, and from 1976 until his retirement in 1994.   (During the pause between his stints as library director he was lent out as Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, 1970-73.)

During Fr. Browne’s years as director the Clark Library doubled in size, expanded and remodeled in 1979.  At the same time automated systems were introduced and the library ventured into early interlibrary cooperatives for the purpose of collection and resource sharing with Portland area libraries (PORTALS) and other colleges and universities throughout the Northwest (NAPCU), leading directly to today’s membership in the Orbis Cascade Alliance (Summit).

Upon retiring from UP, Fr. Browne became pastor of St. Birgitta Parish (Portland) from 1994-2004.  In 2009, he moved to Holy Cross House at Notre Dame where he resided until his death.

Among Fr. Browne’s awards and achievements: President of the Catholic Library Association, 1971-73; The Culligan Faculty Award in 1979; and the Holy Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontiface distinguished service award in 2008.  He was also State Chaplain for the Oregon Knights of Columbus and an expert in parliamentary procedure.  His jacket-lapel sometimes sporting the keys of St. Peter, other times, crossed gavels.  A Religious, a Priest, a Librarian, a Parliamentarian: obedient and admiring and a servant of good order.

(Photo gallery from the University Archives and Log Yearbooks, click on images to enlarge)

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1976

Back: Nan DeRouse, Michael Storwick, Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Margaret Kleszynski Front: Susan Hinken, Vickie Hamilton, Roxane Dimyan, Nadene Miller

Brother David Martin, C.S.C. and Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1984

Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Susan Hinken, Br. Frank Drury, C.S.C., Nadene Miller, Barbara Lay, Pam Horan, 1987 Log

C. Paul Vincent, Kathleen Stansgar, Vickie Hamilton, Jean Ann Drew, Lelah Conrad, Pam Horan, Fr. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., library director; Jane Wahl Ozura, Br. Frank Drury, C.S.C., Mary Devlin

Fr. Joseph Browne with Library Science Class, 1964

Mike Clark, Maurie Clark, regent 1967-2001, Richard Cole, Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1979 Library Open House

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., in front of Library, 1967

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., Dean of College of Arts and Sciences, 1972 Log

Library Director, Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1966

Rev. Joseph Brown, C.S.C., Christmas gathering, 2010

Rev. Joseph Browne, C.S.C., 1968

Professor Emeritus, Historian, and Pride of the Bluff, Dr. James T. Covert, passed away October 13, 2016 following complications from a stroke suffered earlier in the summer.   Aged 84, Dr. Covert was a UP alumnus as well as a professional and institutional pillar of the modern University of Portland.

Infused with Pilot Purple since his arrival on campus in 1955, but living off-campus as a married freshman and graduating on-schedule B.A. ’59, the young history major was a man in a hurry, soon returning to the Bluff in 1961 as a member of the history faculty while pursuing a doctorate at the University of Oregon.  A popular teacher of European history, Dr. Covert’s former students credit him as an inspiring teacher who fueled their love of history.  Dr. Covert spent his entire academic career at UP, retiring with emeriti rank in 1997.   His service to UP includes time as department chair and on numerous faculty committees.  His service to students extended from the classroom to acting as Faculty Representative for Athletics for twenty-three years (nineteen years as member of the executive committee of the West Coast Athletic Conference).   He received the Culligan Award in 1967, Alumnus of the Year Award in 1976, and the Outstanding Teacher Award in 1986.  Together with his wife, Sally, the family created the James T. Covert Family Endowed Scholarship, providing direct support to UP student life.  Eighteen students have received the scholarship since 1996.

Dr. Covert also founded “The Order of the Blue Carbuncle” (Sherlock Holmes Society) in 1971, mentioned because, naturally, his Holmes pipe and deerstalker cap are on display in the University of Portland Museum.

Commissioned to write the University of Portland history for the University’s Seventy-Fifth Anniversary in 1976, Dr. Covert brought his experience as a UP student and as a faculty member to his task.  The finished product “A Point of Pride: The University of Portland Story” has graced the bookshelves of many UP alumni and friends since.   After writing of “A Point of Pride“, Covert began saving pieces and treasures of University history from alumni and friends and he became  – by default? – the founder and first director of the University of Portland Museum (October 15, 1992).  Still carrying on Dr. Covert’s vision to preserve UP’s past for future generations to come, the Heritage Room in 14 Shipstad Hall is open (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 8:30 a.m. to noon; 1:00-2:30 p.m.; Wednesday 8:00 a.m. to noon; 1:00-2:00 p.m.; or by appointment) to students, alumni, staff, and friends of the University.

As a side note, Dr. Covert designed the University Maces used in academic processions.

Covert photo gallery (from the University Archives and Log Yearbooks)
(Click on images to enlarge)

Dr. James Covert, 1997 (University Archives)

Covert eating pie, Engineers Field Day Competition, October 1980 (1981 Log)

Dr. James Covert, 1962 (University Archives)

Dr. Covert with students (1986 Log)

The Order of the Blue Carbuncle (Sherlock Holmes Society), 1971 (University Archives)

Dr. Jim Covert with broken foot talking to long-time friend, Dr. Thom Faller, 1972 (University Archives)

Playing Guitar at Coffee House (1976 Log)

Dr. Jim Covert with Students, 1992 (University Archives)

Dr. James Covert, 1976 (University Archives)

Jim Covert, junior class photo (1958 Log)

Dr. Thompson Faller, Culligan Award winner and Dr. James Covert, Burlington Award winner, 1986 (University Archives)

Dr. Jim Covert, Museum Director, with Museum memorabilia (1994 Log)

History and Political Science Faculty (1995 Log)

Dr. Thompson Faller smashes pie in Dr. Jim Covert’s face (1978 Log)

Steven Taylor ’78, Suzanne (Becker) Taylor ’81 and Dr. James Covert at the Inauguration of Rev. E. William Beauchamp, C.S.C. as University President, 2004 (Steven Taylor photo)

Future UP history professor as member of the History Club during senior year, 1958-59 (1959 Log)

Young professor, Dr. Covert, holding his son, Marc, while wife, Sally, takes photo, August 1961 (University Archives)

History and Political Science Faculty (1989 Log)

Delta Epsilon Sigma (1987 Log)

Dr. Covert with students (1985 Log)

Dr. Covert carrying one of his handcarved maces for UP Summer Commencement, 1978 (University Archives)

Too often, institutions are mistaken and judged by exteriors, as measured in bricks and mortar, in buildings, monument, edifice.  But the life of a University is made of people – persons who give themselves body and soul, blood and tears – who define the character and life to the University of Portland by their lives and commitments.

One of our pillars – bearing up as student, later professor and mentor and benefactor – Dr. Manuel “Manny” Jato Macias, returned to the earth on March 19, 2016, age 86 (never fully recovered from a debilitating stroke suffered on Christmas Eve in 1998).

His testimony and affection is on record from this interview published in Portland Magazine (Autumn, 2000)

“the University is home to me, I love it.  I always thought I was building something useful there.  I met marvelous people there who inspired me.  The University is changing now, and that’s good and a little painful – there’s a part of everyone that wishes things always stayed the same.  Yet we must progress, or we fail; and my heart stays there, always the same, always in love.”

Dr. Macias abided with UP life-long.  Arriving on the Bluff in 1947, a freshman committed to the pedagogy of the priests and brothers of Holy Cross, he graduated cum laude in 1951, and in 1958 returned as colleague and professor.  While a student at UP, the future Professor of Spanish was a member of the Spanish Club, but listed there with the Anglo-name ‘Mike’ in the yearbook photo.   Dr. Manuel Macias, PhD., Professor of Spanish from 1958-1995, served as department chair for 12 years; assisted and directed the University of Portland Program in Spain from 1969-1972; received the Culligan Award in 1963, Outstanding Teacher Award in 1993, and in 1994 the Alexander Christie Award.  He served faithfully and colorfully as Grand Marshal at University commencements from 1976-1995.

Manny’s benefactions to the University were many, some of which were monetary.  Among his donations:  he established multiple student scholarships; contributed to Chapel of Christ the Teacher building-fund; commissioned the campus landmark “O Cruceiro” (in memory of his parents and brother) located beside the Clark Library; donated a collection of books to the University library; and honored the University Museum with some of his prized belongings, (including his “blue lampshade” hexagonal birrete — biretta or academic cap).   All of these gifts — and the inspiration Manny shared with generations of students — will long be part of the University’s foundation, history, and legacy.

Photo gallery: click on image to enlarge:

Manuel Macias High School Graduation, 1947 (University Archives)

Dr. Manuel Macias, 1962 (University Archives)

Dr. Macias with Students in the University of Portland Spain Program, 1970 (University Archives)

Dr. Manuel Macias at his desk, 1972 (University Archives)

Dr. Macias Teaching at the Blackboard, 1977 (University Archives)

Grand Marshal at University of Portland Commencements, 1977 (University Archives)

Dr. Macias with Students in a Classroom, 1979 (University Archives)

Dr. Macias with “O Cruceiro”, gift to the University in memory of his parents and brother, 1986 (University Archives)

Manny Macias, 1987 (University Archives)

Dr. Macias Retirement photo, 1995 (University Archives)

Dr. Manuel Macias, Spanish Academic Regalia, 1992 (University Archives)

Academic Biretta from University of Madrid, 1956 (University Museum)

Academic medallion worn by Dr. Macias with his Academic Regalia, 1956 (University Museum)

Reverse of Medallion for Spanish Academic Regalia, 1956 (University Archives)