Obituaries

'53

Katherine Cameron
November 15, 1929–September 26, 2024

Kathie (as her grandparents first called her), was born in Portland, Ore., on November 15, 1929, to Rose Marie Bradley and David M. Cameron.

Throughout her life, Kathie's family took annual summer vacations to Victoria, BC, where her grandparents lived. Her paternal grandfather was an accomplished painter. He inspired her love of art, and she began painting there.

After graduating from Grant High School in Portland in 1948 she enrolled in a joint BA/BFA program with Reed College and the Museum Art School. The latter became the Pacific Northwest College of Art (PNCA). She studied under William H. Givler, Rachael Griffin, Jack McLarty and Louis Bunce. Her thesis was in lithography. She earned her degree in painting in 1953. In January 2019, the PNCA hosted a retrospective exhibition of her works. It was the first time they had been shown together in an academic gallery.

Kathie taught art for a year at Shriners Hospital in Portland before moving to Grant High School. She taught there for the next thirty years. Her classes included drawing, painting, art history, calligraphy, silk screening, weaving, frame making, fashion design, glass mosaics, and more. She was devoted to her Grant students, including Sherrie Wolf, a now well-known artist, and the actress Sally Struthers.

Each year Kathie would screen print an original Christmas card, usually featuring her cat's adventures. She was a lifelong and devoted student of Christian Science. She was a member of 8th Church of Christ, Scientist, and 1st Church of Christ, Scientist, in Portland, Ore. She loved traveling and gardening.

Kathie passed away peacefully at home on September 26, 2024. She was 94 years young. Surviving her is Ricardo Rodriquez, her handyman and caregiver for over 20 years. He cared for her as devotedly and tenderly as any son. At her request, no services were held. She was buried beside her parents at Skyline Memorial Gardens. She will be missed.

'61

Jay Backstrand
December 1, 1934–December 2, 2024

Jay was born in Salem on December 1, 1934 to Dr. Jerald Samuel Backstrand and Maxine Elliott Backstrand. He attended Salem schools and graduated from Salem High School in 1953. He then attended Oregon State University for two years before joining the US Army serving in Monheim, Germany. After the Army Jay returned to Portland and enrolled in the Museum Art School where he completed a four-year degree. He also studied at the Slade School of the University of London as a Fulbright fellow. Jay later taught art from 1975-1986 at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, and in the 1970s was a co-founder of the Portland Center for Visual Arts.

Jay was a well-respected Oregon artist who created powerful and enigmatic paintings. Over the years he was represented in Portland, Ore. by the Image Gallery, the Fountain Gallery and currently the Russo Lee Gallery where his work can be seen today. In 1984 he was honored with a 10-year retrospective at Marylhurst College and in 2007 at the Eighth Northwest Biennial at the Tacoma Art Museum. He has won numerous awards and is included in such collections as the National Gallery in Washington, D.C., the Oxford University Press Print Collection in England, the Portland Art Museum, the Seattle Art Museum, the Tacoma Art Museum, the Henry Gallery at the University of Washington, the Jordan Schnitzer Museum of Art at the University of Oregon, the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at Willamette University and the Denver Art Museum. Awards include an NEA grant, an Oregon Arts Foundation grant, and a Smithsonian Institute purchase award.

Jay's artistic talents were recognized early in his life and encouraged by his 9th grade art teacher Bob Voight. He helped Jay enter a national art competition that year with a painting called Sea Scape winning a National Gold Key award. As he was taught, he taught and helped many others in similar ways as an integral member of the closely knit Oregon arts community. He frequently opened his studio to others and maintained many strong personal relationships with arts community friends and his extended family.

Jay married Barbara Ruttenberg December 2, 1961 and together had one daughter Koren Ann Backstrand, born June 20, 1968. Jay and Barbara later divorced, and Jay never remarried. Jay is survived by his older brother, Elliott Backstrand; his younger brother, Jim Backstrand; brother-in-law, Blair McCabe; nephews, Jay Backstrand, Brian McCabe, Marc McCabe; and nieces, Kendall Nash and Molly Roby. Jay was preceded in death by his sister, Sarah McCabe and his daughter, Koren Ann Backstrand.

Remembrance donations may be made to the arts charity of your choice.

’82

Mark Gustafson
September 19, 1959–February 1, 2024

Guillermo del Toro Honors Oscar Winner Mark Gustafson, Who Co-Directed Pinocchio, After His Death at 64 Mark Gustafson won an Academy Award and a Primetime Emmy, among other accolades, over his four decades in the animation industry Mark Gustafson, a longtime Hollywood director who won an Academy Award in March 2023 for co-directing Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, has died. He was 64.

Del Toro, 59, announced Gustafson's death in a post he shared on X Friday, stating that Gustafson died Thursday.

In del Toro's post, the filmmaker shared a photo of himself and Gustafson taken on the set of the stop-motion animated Pinocchio film.

"I admired Mark Gustafson, even before I met him. A pillar of stop motion animation- a true artist," he wrote in the post. "A compassionate, sensitive and mordantly witty man. A Legend- and a friend that inspired and gave hope to all around him. He passed away yesterday. Today we honor and miss him."

Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio won Best Animated Film at last year's 95th Oscars ceremony. It also won best animated film at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards, among other accolades. In del Toro's social media post announcing Gustafson's death, the filmmaker wrote that Gustafson "leaves behind a Titanic legacy of animation that goes back to the very origins of Claymation and that shaped the career and craft of countless animators."

"They say- 'Never meet your heroes...' I disagree. You cannot be disappointed by someone being human... We all are," del Toro wrote. "Burning the midnight oil during postproduction, or doing daily animation turnovers via Zoom during COVID or being trapped in an elevator in a Cinema in London..."

"I am as glad to have met Mark, the human as I was honored to have met the artist. As I said, I admired him before I met him," del Toro added. "I loved having had the chance to share time and space with him during the highs and the lows. Always and forever."

Gustafson was a native of Portland, Ore., as The Oregonian noted in an obituary published Friday. He started his career in animation working in claymation for Will Vinton Studios in Portland for the California Raisins brand, as multiple outlets reported. His first film credits came as part of the claymation teams for 1985's The Adventures of Mark Twain and Return to Oz, kicking off a career that lasted more than 30 years.

Prior to Guillermo del Toro's Pinocchio, Gustafson worked as the animation director on Wes Anderson's 2009 film Fantastic Mr. Fox. He received four Emmy Award nominations over the course of his career and won at that awards ceremony in 1992 for the television special Claymation Easter, in the outstanding animated program (for programming one hour or less) category.

"It's so good to know that this art form we love so much, stop-motion, is very much alive and well," Gustafson said at the Oscars last year ceremony following Pinocchio's win. He also took a moment to thank his wife, Jennifer, during his short speech.

'84

Stuart Adams
September 10, 1962–November 28, 2024

Stuart William Adams was born on September 10, 1962, in Oakland, California and passed away on November 28, 2024 in Lake Oswego, Oregon due to a heart attack. Stuart graduated from Lakeridge High School in 1980 and from the Pacific Northwest College of Art, Museum Art School in 1984.

After college, Stuart worked in a several Lake Oswego restaurants, where he met a number of close and caring friends. In recent years, Stuart worked at Men's Warehouse, and is greatly missed by co-workers there.

Stuart told his friends that “the biggest, most important thing in life is to inspire others.” Throughout his life, Stuart created art; exploring a number of mediums and styles. He was a member of the Lake Area Artists, Rain Spark Gallery and a regular exhibitor at the Lake Oswego Festival of the Arts. He leaves behind an amazing body of work, and also a large group of family and friends whose lives had been touched by his warmth and creativity.

As part of his Artist Statement he wrote: “Art is both a declaration of independence and an affirmation of unity. Every artwork speaks to the individual artist’s evolution of thought, and adds to the collective consciousness of the human race."

Stuart is survived by his sisters, Rhonda Adams (Wendy Lebow), Sarah Adams, and Amy Salisbury (Clark Salisbury); and his niece, Emma Lebow. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ron and Teace Adams.

A celebration of life will be held in the New Year.

'20

Rachel (Ray) Rogers
January 4, 1984–December 12, 2024

Rachel (Ray) Rogers, died 12/12/2024. Despite her warrior spirit and fierce will to live, a bacterial sepsis overwhelmed her fragile body. She passed in the arms of her parents and joins her precious brother, Reid.

Ray was a creative MFA artist who celebrated color and joy and playfulness in her photographs. She was a swimmer most at home in sun and water and warm ocean breezes. Ray was a free spirit and loving daughter to parents, Pam Kulin and Jim Rogers; and sister to Jessica Rogers (Chris Collins) and aunt to her cherished niece and nephew. She embraced each day and reminded us to keep our dreams alive in the face of challenges. Her everlasting bright light will be forever remembered by her many friends and family.

Faculty & Staff

David Eckard
1964–April 16, 2025

(The following message from Jordan Schnitzer Dean of PNCA, Jen Cole, was sent to PNCA alums on Friday, April 18, 2025)

It is with a heavy heart that we share the news of the passing of beloved teacher, artist, colleague and friend, Associate Professor & Chair of Sculpture David Eckard, on April 16, 2025.

David, a self-described “general misfit and menace,” had a varied creative career spanning more than three decades. His work invited social provocation and inquiry through paintings, animated objects and performances. His creative and professional work was wide and deep and always beautifully crafted. From social experiments to drag to prop and set work to fine art installation, David’s work, like David, was beyond boundary.

This work was celebrated in countless exhibits and performances and led to long time collaboration with the Portland Institute of Contemporary Art. David was a 2010 Hallie Ford Fellow and has been featured in ArtNews, Sculpture Magazine and the New York Times. More about David’s practice is summarized beautifully in the Ford Family Foundation’s monograph on his work.

He began his professional work in Chicago after graduating from the School of the Arts Institute in 1988, but eventually made his way to Portland, where he became a fixture of the contemporary art and performance scenes. He also began to teach, mentor and build community as an artist-educator at PNCA.

David joined the faculty in 1999, and has been the beating heart of our 3D making programs since. In 2010, he took the reins of the sculpture department, where he pushed for a curriculum and teaching approach that amplified technique, risk-taking and wild imagination. David’s student-centered teaching, approachability, boundless curiosity, empathy and criticality made him a sought after mentor, peer collaborator and colleague.

During his tenure at PNCA, he launched key traditions, such as our annual Cardboard Couture. He served as the self-appointed “Glass Mom” and informal leader of PNCA’s 3D making spaces, a position he cherished because it connected his making practice with that of his students. His support, artistic leadership and relational mentoring have shaped the lives and careers of hundreds of students and faculty over the years, and his impact on PNCA cannot be measured. He lived and made art with curiosity, joy and community — an inspiration to those around him.

David is survived by his husband, Eric, and countless chosen family and friends.

A public celebration of life will be held at PNCA (511 NW Broadway) on May 10 from 2-4 p.m.

Jen Cole, Jordan Schnitzer Dean of PNCA

Peter Kipp Schoonmaker
May 28, 1958–February 7, 2025

Nature lover, educator, scientist, family man, friend. Peter Schoonmaker had a quiet presence that underplayed his restless intelligence and wry sense of humor. He died Feb 7, 2025 after a brief illness.

From a young age, Peter possessed a wonder and curiosity about everything. One of many examples was when he discovered the Encyclopedia Britannica at the age of nine and worked his way through the set by reading past his bedtime every night. He was instilled with a love of nature from family trips throughout Oregon, and he went on to receive his bachelor's degree in biology at Colorado College. A great explorer and researcher, he jumped at the opportunity to track, tag and observe Andean Condors in a remote region of Peru in the effort to save the California Condor. He continued his education at Harvard University, earning his PhD in Organismic and Evolutionary Biology before heading back to Portland with his wife and their three boys.

In 1992 Peter started a professional career devoted to researching and preserving the natural resources of the Pacific Northwest and beyond. As a Science Director for the nonprofit Ecotrust, he developed research and monitoring programs for temperate rainforest watersheds. Peter served as the Board President of the nonprofit Friends of Opal Creek from 1996-2005, working to save one of the last ancient forests in the region for future generations. In 1998, he put his stamp on the local environmental scene by founding Illahee, building public awareness and inquiry through forums and a lecture series that brought some of the world's most respected experts from different fields and cultures to discuss strategies and viable policies that would better the public good.

As gifted as Peter was at soaking in knowledge, his truest joy was in sharing it. In 2011, he became the Founding Chair for the Collaborative Design MFA program at the Pacific Northwest College of Art, developing curriculum that prompted students across disciplines to explore design solutions to complex environmental, social, technological and global challenges.

In 2022, Peter joined the American Community School Beirut as the Outdoor Education Director. Upon arrival, he fell in love with the place and its people. His time there was highlighted by field trips with preschoolers to the mountain campus where he shared his love of nature. Along with his career as a scientist, teacher and collaborator, Peter had many hobbies throughout his life and the three constants were skiing, fly-fishing and guitars. He traveled the globe, but his most beloved place was a family homestead in Central Oregon where he devoted much of his time moving irrigation pipes in the lower pasture and tending to his apple trees.

Peter had that special gift for finding instant rapport with people the world over. His warmth, openness and authentic interest in others always drew him into conversations with just about everyone he encountered (especially if a beer or coffee was involved).

He is survived by his wife, Megan Brooke; their three sons and their spouses, Guy and Emily Schoonmaker, Cole Schoonmaker, Henry and Holly Schoonmaker; the joys of his life, grandchildren, Dorothy and Fletcher Schoonmaker; his sisters, Karen Lynn and Polly Wood; and his beloved mother, Dorothy "Dottie" Schoonmaker. We will miss being able to ask about (or involuntarily listen to) our intrepid guide share the evolutionary histories of subjects ranging from geologic formations, to the habitats and patterns of birds, ecologic landscapes, or the politics of the world.

If you would like to honor Peter, be a good listener, take time in nature, and leave a generous tip for your local barista.

Priscilla Beacon Carrasco
January 15, 1933–February 25, 2025

Priscilla Beacon Carrasco, 92, passed away on February 25, 2025 in her home in Salem, Oregon, cared for by her life Partner of 25 years, Stephan Soihl.

Priscilla was born in Escondido California and was raised by her mother, Ruth Hill, along with her two sisters, Barbara and Julie.

Priscilla attended Mills College in Oakland, California, earning a degree in Art History. She met Marcio Carrasco there, married him, and moved with him back to his home in Chile. Their son, Robert, was soon born. In Chile she became quite fluent in Spanish.

Inspired by her mother's love of photography, Priscilla began studying the camera and began photographing people back in Oregon. She got a job in the 1960's writing a local newspaper in Spanish in Woodburn, Oregon which she delivered to Mexican families working in the labor camps of local farmers. At this time, she became quite concerned about the plight of poor, working women. She also pursued a Master's Degree in Social Work, which allowed her to teach photography at the Museum Art School in Portland, now the Pacific Northwest College of Art.

In Woodburn she also met members of a newly immigrated group to Oregon, the Russian Old Believers. Because of their religious beliefs, their lives were threatened by the Communist regime in Russia and they had to escape to Turkey, Brazil, or America. She made beautiful photographs of individual people, and also groups, for instance of young people preparing for a wedding ceremony.

For years she worked organizing her photographs and writings in order to publish a book called "Praise Old Believers". With the help of many contributions to a non-profit began by Stephan Soihl she was able to print 1000 copies of the beautiful book.

Priscilla envisioned a second book, made with photographs from her travels to Mexico, Assam, India, Japan, Bali, and Spain. The photographs are of women working at jobs which allow them to barely survive, and they are beautiful photographs It is the hope that the book called "Women with the Earth" can be printed someday.

Eunice Parsons
August 4, 1916–November 16, 2024

(The following is an excerpt of a piece from Oregon ArtsWatch)

Eunice Lulu Parsons, a prominent collagist, painter, printmaker, and teacher who moved from Chicago to Portland in about 1940 and stayed here for the rest of her life, died in Portland on Saturday, Nov. 16, 2024. She was 108 years old.

Parsons, who was born in 1916 in Loma, Colorado, and moved with her family to Chicago as a child, gravitated to the art world early, taking children’s art classes at the Art Institute of Chicago and then, as a young woman, studying art at the University of Chicago.

She was a rare link to an earlier generation of Oregon artists that helped form the region’s aesthetic personality. Married in 1936 to Allen Herbert Jensen, a Merchant Marine, she raised her three children mostly by herself during the later years of the Depression and World War II.

Parsons, sometimes known as Eunice Jensen Parsons (she and Jensen divorced in 1960), eventually took up her art studies again, beginning classes at the Museum Art School (now the Pacific Northwest College of Art).

Her Museum Art School teachers proved to be significant influences on her career, too: In her time at the school she took classes from a Northwest who’s-who of mid-20th century artist/teachers, among them Charles Voorheis, William Givler, Louis Bunce, and Jack McLarty.

For many years Parsons balanced her own artwork with a teaching career: She was on the faculty of the Museum Art School — teaching, as Laing-Malcomson noted, from 1957 until she retired in 1979, with a year’s break to teach art at Portland State University. And she was a founding member in 2005 of the Portland artist-run 12×16 Gallery, which continued until 2017.

Along the way she developed a distinct style of her own.

“(C)ollage is an art of destroying one thing to create another, splicing excerpts from many discourses, and jumbling the formerly ordered into a new, often chaotic unity,” the late Roger Hull, curator, art professor, and chronicler of the artists and artworks of the Pacific Northwest, wrote for an exhibition of Parsons’ work at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art in Salem. “In these ways, collage does seem to reflect the splintery static of contemporary life. For the Portland artist Eunice Parsons, collage involves a particularly vital interplay of words, images, textures, shapes, and colors that mingle the new and the nostalgic, the present experience and the remembered time or place."

During her long and extraordinary life Parsons spent more than eight decades in Portland, but her eyes always took in what was happening in the larger world, too. She traveled by bus to New York and Washington, D.C., to take in the new art of abstract expressionism and other forms. She led Portland State University students on trips to Europe.

Then, too, there was her lifelong passion for Scrabble — a game of letters, broken down and reassembled into new patterns. Much, as it turns out, like collage, that other, larger, passion of her long and well-lived life.