Gail Achterman, one of Oregon's foremost experts in natural resources, environmental law and policy and transportation, died on Jan. 28, 2012, of pancreatic cancer. She was 62 years old. At the time of her death, she had recently retired as director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University and as Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission.
Gail was born in Portland on Aug. 1, 1949, to Walter and Patricia Achterman . She graduated from South Salem High and received her A.B. degree in economics with honors from Stanford University, where she was a three-sport athlete -basketball, track and swimming. Long after she graduated, the Stanford Athletic Department awarded a letter jacket to Gail and many other women in recognition of the role they played in women's athletics. Gail went on to earn both her law degree and master's degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan. She began her career working in Washington D.C. for the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1978, she returned to her beloved Oregon and joined the law firm that became Stoel Rives, LLP. As an associate and then a partner at Stoel Rives, she specialized in natural resource and environmental law, with a focus on public land law, natural resource acquisition, development and permitting. In 1980, she married Chuck McGinnis. From 1987 to 1991, Gail worked as assistant to the governor of Oregon for natural resources. In 2000, she became the executive director of Deschutes Resources Conservancy in Bend. In 2003, she became director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. After leaving INR in 2011, she started her legacy project, Willamette Strategies, with the goal of promoting a shared understanding and vision of our relationship to the Willamette Valley. Gail's community service was vast and included: president of the Oregon Women's Forum, the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Portland Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors of the City Club of Portland. She was a senior fellow in the American Leadership Forum. One of Gail's proudest achievements was participating in drafting the legislation that created the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in 1981. Gail received numerous awards, including the Richard Neuberger Award from the Oregon Environmental Council. Gail and Chuck were life partners in every way. He encouraged and supported her extraordinary career. They shared outdoors adventures at the Snow Shoe Club, in the Northwest and the western United States. Gail and Chuck spent wonderful weekends filled with recreation and relaxation at their cabin sanctuary at Wapinitia on Mt. Hood, often with good friends. Gail will be remembered for her passion for and knowledge of the natural world, her lifelong commitment to her community and to Oregon, for mentoring and creating opportunities for many young people and for her brilliant mind. She loved to be outdoors, especially rowing on the Willamette River, backpacking, skiing, hiking and fishing. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Gail is survived by her husband and many family members.
The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Gail was born in Portland on Aug. 1, 1949, to Walter and Patricia Achterman . She graduated from South Salem High and received her A.B. degree in economics with honors from Stanford University, where she was a three-sport athlete -basketball, track and swimming. Long after she graduated, the Stanford Athletic Department awarded a letter jacket to Gail and many other women in recognition of the role they played in women's athletics. Gail went on to earn both her law degree and master's degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan. She began her career working in Washington D.C. for the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1978, she returned to her beloved Oregon and joined the law firm that became Stoel Rives, LLP. As an associate and then a partner at Stoel Rives, she specialized in natural resource and environmental law, with a focus on public land law, natural resource acquisition, development and permitting. In 1980, she married Chuck McGinnis. From 1987 to 1991, Gail worked as assistant to the governor of Oregon for natural resources. In 2000, she became the executive director of Deschutes Resources Conservancy in Bend. In 2003, she became director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. After leaving INR in 2011, she started her legacy project, Willamette Strategies, with the goal of promoting a shared understanding and vision of our relationship to the Willamette Valley. Gail's community service was vast and included: president of the Oregon Women's Forum, the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Portland Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors of the City Club of Portland. She was a senior fellow in the American Leadership Forum. One of Gail's proudest achievements was participating in drafting the legislation that created the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in 1981. Gail received numerous awards, including the Richard Neuberger Award from the Oregon Environmental Council. Gail and Chuck were life partners in every way. He encouraged and supported her extraordinary career. They shared outdoors adventures at the Snow Shoe Club, in the Northwest and the western United States. Gail and Chuck spent wonderful weekends filled with recreation and relaxation at their cabin sanctuary at Wapinitia on Mt. Hood, often with good friends. Gail will be remembered for her passion for and knowledge of the natural world, her lifelong commitment to her community and to Oregon, for mentoring and creating opportunities for many young people and for her brilliant mind. She loved to be outdoors, especially rowing on the Willamette River, backpacking, skiing, hiking and fishing. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Gail is survived by her husband and many family members.
The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Gail Achterman, one of Oregon's foremost experts in natural resources, environmental law and policy and transportation, died on Jan. 28, 2012, of pancreatic cancer. She was 62 years old. At the time of her death, she had recently retired as director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University and as Chair of the Oregon Transportation Commission.
Gail was born in Portland on Aug. 1, 1949, to Walter and Patricia Achterman . She graduated from South Salem High and received her A.B. degree in economics with honors from Stanford University, where she was a three-sport athlete -basketball, track and swimming. Long after she graduated, the Stanford Athletic Department awarded a letter jacket to Gail and many other women in recognition of the role they played in women's athletics. Gail went on to earn both her law degree and master's degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan. She began her career working in Washington D.C. for the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1978, she returned to her beloved Oregon and joined the law firm that became Stoel Rives, LLP. As an associate and then a partner at Stoel Rives, she specialized in natural resource and environmental law, with a focus on public land law, natural resource acquisition, development and permitting. In 1980, she married Chuck McGinnis. From 1987 to 1991, Gail worked as assistant to the governor of Oregon for natural resources. In 2000, she became the executive director of Deschutes Resources Conservancy in Bend. In 2003, she became director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. After leaving INR in 2011, she started her legacy project, Willamette Strategies, with the goal of promoting a shared understanding and vision of our relationship to the Willamette Valley. Gail's community service was vast and included: president of the Oregon Women's Forum, the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Portland Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors of the City Club of Portland. She was a senior fellow in the American Leadership Forum. One of Gail's proudest achievements was participating in drafting the legislation that created the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in 1981. Gail received numerous awards, including the Richard Neuberger Award from the Oregon Environmental Council. Gail and Chuck were life partners in every way. He encouraged and supported her extraordinary career. They shared outdoors adventures at the Snow Shoe Club, in the Northwest and the western United States. Gail and Chuck spent wonderful weekends filled with recreation and relaxation at their cabin sanctuary at Wapinitia on Mt. Hood, often with good friends. Gail will be remembered for her passion for and knowledge of the natural world, her lifelong commitment to her community and to Oregon, for mentoring and creating opportunities for many young people and for her brilliant mind. She loved to be outdoors, especially rowing on the Willamette River, backpacking, skiing, hiking and fishing. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Gail is survived by her husband and many family members.
The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Gail was born in Portland on Aug. 1, 1949, to Walter and Patricia Achterman . She graduated from South Salem High and received her A.B. degree in economics with honors from Stanford University, where she was a three-sport athlete -basketball, track and swimming. Long after she graduated, the Stanford Athletic Department awarded a letter jacket to Gail and many other women in recognition of the role they played in women's athletics. Gail went on to earn both her law degree and master's degree in Natural Resource Policy and Management from the University of Michigan. She began her career working in Washington D.C. for the Solicitor for the U.S. Department of the Interior. In 1978, she returned to her beloved Oregon and joined the law firm that became Stoel Rives, LLP. As an associate and then a partner at Stoel Rives, she specialized in natural resource and environmental law, with a focus on public land law, natural resource acquisition, development and permitting. In 1980, she married Chuck McGinnis. From 1987 to 1991, Gail worked as assistant to the governor of Oregon for natural resources. In 2000, she became the executive director of Deschutes Resources Conservancy in Bend. In 2003, she became director of the Institute for Natural Resources at Oregon State University. After leaving INR in 2011, she started her legacy project, Willamette Strategies, with the goal of promoting a shared understanding and vision of our relationship to the Willamette Valley. Gail's community service was vast and included: president of the Oregon Women's Forum, the Board of Directors and executive committee of the Portland Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Governors of the City Club of Portland. She was a senior fellow in the American Leadership Forum. One of Gail's proudest achievements was participating in drafting the legislation that created the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area in 1981. Gail received numerous awards, including the Richard Neuberger Award from the Oregon Environmental Council. Gail and Chuck were life partners in every way. He encouraged and supported her extraordinary career. They shared outdoors adventures at the Snow Shoe Club, in the Northwest and the western United States. Gail and Chuck spent wonderful weekends filled with recreation and relaxation at their cabin sanctuary at Wapinitia on Mt. Hood, often with good friends. Gail will be remembered for her passion for and knowledge of the natural world, her lifelong commitment to her community and to Oregon, for mentoring and creating opportunities for many young people and for her brilliant mind. She loved to be outdoors, especially rowing on the Willamette River, backpacking, skiing, hiking and fishing. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed by her family and many friends.
Gail is survived by her husband and many family members.
The Oregonian (Portland, OR)
on Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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