In Memoriam, Fall 2015

The Honorable Anthony “Tony” L. Casciato JD ’50 died of congestive heart failure September 7, 2015. He was 97 years old. Tony was born on November 1, 1917, in Portland. He and his twin brother, Alfredo (who died in infancy), were the fifth and sixth children of Giuseppe and Teresina Casciato. Tony graduated from Commerce (later Cleveland) High School. He graduated from the University of Portland in 1941 and worked for the Bonneville Power Administration until he was drafted in 1942 to serve during World War II. In 1950, Tony married Dolores “Dede” Carlo. They had four children. Admitted to the bar in 1951, Tony practiced law until 1971, when he was appointed to the municipal bench (later the District/Circuit Court) for Multnomah County. He retired in 1993. A quintessential family man, Tony instilled in his children a sense of fair play, a love of learning, a ferocious work ethic, and an abiding loyalty to family and friends. He considered the law a noble profession and saw it as a tool for helping others. Sports, particularly baseball, were both a passion and a solace. A gifted athlete, he played semi-pro baseball in his youth and never lost his love for the game or his favorite team, the New York Yankees. One of the greatest experiences of his life was attending the Yankees fantasy baseball camp at the age of 82 with his son Peter. Although he could be somewhat reserved, Tony enjoyed the company of others. In his professional capacity he was a mentor to legions of young lawyers, many of whom credit their subsequent success to his wise counsel. Tony was preceded in death by his wife, Dede, and his son Peter. He is survived by his son Tom; his daughters, Mary Jo Binker and Nancy Casciato; his daughters-in-law, Regina Casciato and Kathleen Hughes; his sons-in-law, Roland Binker and Kenn Walton; and six grandchildren. 

Jerold “Jerry” L.Billings JD ’62 passed away peacefully in his home on February 18, 2015, after a long and full life. He was 88. Born in Falls City, Nebraska, in 1926, Jerry moved with his family to Portland in 1942 and attended Washington High School. He enlisted in the U.S. Army at 18 to fight in WWII. Sent to the Pacific theater, he took part in the Battle of Okinawa, earning a Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Jerry 56 was the only member of his platoon to survive. On his return to Portland, he met and married Lorelei Brown, with whom he had three daughters. In 1962, Jerry went into private practice, a business he maintained for nearly 30 years. After acting as Madeleine Murray O’Hair’s counsel in Oregon in the 1970s, he founded the Oregon chapter of American Atheists, later renamed the Center for Rational Thought and eventually U.S. Atheists. He was the voice of “Dial an Atheist” for more than 20 years and host of the public television program Bunk Busters from 1995 until 2011. His other passion was the collection and cataloging of antique tools, especially early American wood planes. Jerry is survived by his loving partner for 65 years, Lorelei; daughters Dawn, Melanie, and Nancy; grandchildren Matthew Yun, Remington Powell, and Katherine Powell; great-granddaughter Ava Yun; and beloved caretakers Moana Toloke and her daughter, Vee.

Marvin Nepom JD ’62 died in November 2014 at the age of 88. Born in Portland of immigrant parents, Marvin attended the University of Washington. It was there that he met his wife, whom he married at the age of 21. After a decade in the grocery business, and with the encouragement of Leo Levenson, he began to attend law school in the evening. While a student, he frequently told his three young children bedtime stories that incorporated law school themes. After passing the bar in 1962, Marvin handled a broad array of cases before concentrating on personal injury litigation as a solo practitioner. He served as president of the Multnomah Bar Association for 1981-82. Marvin is survived by Leah, his wife of 67 years; three children; four grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. The Honorable Karl W. Freerksen Jr. JD ’63 passed away on January 13, 2015, after living with Parkinson’s disease for nearly 11 years. He was 78. Karl was born January 21, 1936, in Freeport, Illinois, to Karl Walter Sr. and Dorothy Elaine (Haines) Freerksen. The family moved to Cedar Mill, Oregon, where Karl attended Cedar Mill and Sylvan Grade Schools. He graduated from Beaverton High School in 1953. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Willamette University in 1957, Karl served six years of active duty with the National Guard to earn enough money to attend law school. Early in his career, Karl had a general law practice in Beaverton with eight other attorneys, constituting the largest firm in the county. He was asked in 1973 to serve as judge protem under the pilot program funded by the Legislature. Karl was the last judge to be appointed by Governor Tom McCall, in 1974. He served as the presiding district judge and president of the Oregon District Judges’ Association, and in 1997 he completed the mediation course at the National Judicial College. Karl retired in 1998 after 25 years of service as a circuit judge, though he continued to serve as a judge pro-tem. He said that he found life on the bench more enjoyable than private practice, because it was more predictable. “The cases are different every day, but you generally know what they are going to be about. Also, I never had a paid vacation until I became a judge!” Karl wed Barbara Sue VanHoutin on September 26, 1970. In 1977, they built a home north of North Plains, where they enjoyed gardening, the deer, the view of the coast range, and hosting picnics and other events. Karl served on the board of directors for the Rotary Foundation, and on the board of trustees at the Hillsboro United Methodist Church and St. Mary’s School for Boys. He was active in the Washington County and North Plains Historical Societies. Karl was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Gerald. He is survived by his wife, Barbara; brother Gene; sister-in-law Linda; several nieces and nephews; and many cousins. 

Michael Harrison Hicks JD ’70 died of cancer June 19, 2015, at home in Vancouver, Washington. He was 72. Born April 21, 1943, in Vancouver to Glen and Helen Hicks, Mike was raised in Clark County and graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School. He earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington, where he particularly enjoyed his time as a member of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity. Mike practiced law in Clark County and the surrounding areas for 42 years before retiring in 2014. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. 

Roderick “Rod” L. Bunnell JD ’74 passed away on October 1, 2015, in Portland’s Good Samaritan Hospital, the same facility where he was born on August 4, 1930. He was 85. Rod lived in Hanford, Yakima, and Hood River while growing up. He attended Whitman College and served briefly in the U.S. Army before returning to Portland. Following his 1955 marriage, he joined OPS Blue Shield as a claims analyst, remaining with the firm for his entire career. He retired from Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon as general counsel, corporate secretary, and a major architect of the Regence Group. He often represented Blue Cross Blue Shield in state and national legislative matters. Rod was active in many civic groups, including the Washington County Public Affairs Forum, Washington County Historical Society, Cedar Mill Community Library, and Beaverton School District. An avid outdoorsman, he enjoyed mountain climbing, backpacking, cycling, and cross-country skiing. He also maintained a lifelong interest in Northwest history, especially that of its native cultures. He is survived by his wife, Sally McMillan Bunnell; sons John and David; daughter-in-law Jenna; and two grandchildren. 

Richard “Dick” John Whittemore JD ’82 passed away unexpectedly on July 5, 2015, having suffered cardiac arrest following a weekend of motor racing. He was 59. Dick was born January 19, 1956, in Portland to Dr. James P. and Mary Margaret Whittemore. He attended St. Thomas More Grade School and Jesuit High School, from which he graduated in 1974. He earned a BA from Colorado College in 1978. While a law student, Dick worked nights so he could serve a clerkship for Multnomah County Circuit Court Judge Charles Crookham. He remained close to Crookham and delivered a eulogy at the judge’s funeral service in 2004. Dick joined the firm of Bullivant Houser Bailey in 1984 and was a senior shareholder. An expert in product liability defense, malpractice, and commercial litigation, he was a member of the Oregon, Washington, and Idaho bar associations. “Dick was the consummate professional and partner and a tremendous legal advocate equally respected by his clients, adversaries, and judges hearing his cases,” said Loren Podwill, president of Bullivant Houser Bailey. “He was a devoted teacher, spending endless hours working with newer lawyers, teaching them the tools of the trade and professionalism, and volunteering his time to judge local and national legal competitions.” He had a reputation for speaking softly, listening intently, and thinking logically. His personal passion was motor racing. He traveled the Pacific Northwest participating in Sports Car Club of America races and collected numerous checkered flags throughout his racing career. In 1997, Dick was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and underwent six months of aggressive treatment. During this time, he continued to work at a high level. In 2008, he was diagnosed with a more aggressive form of NHL, but he succeeded in surviving both the formidable treatment and the disease. Dick was a member of numerous professional organizations, including the American Board of Trial Advocates, which he served as national board representative president-elect. He was a member of the Oregon Association of Defense Counsel and served as a regional judge for the 2015 National Trial Competition of the Texas Young Lawyers Association. He was also a member of the University Club of Portland, which he served as president in 2006. Dick is survived by his loving wife of 10 years, Carolyn; sisters Kathy Johnson and Susan Honeyman; brother James; nieces Libby Rasmussen and Katherine Byrne; and nephews Blake Whittemore, Michael and Christopher Johnson, and Andrew and Kevin Honeyman. 

Janice (Jan) Hirsch JD ’93 passed away on October 16, 2014, after a battle with cancer. She was 64. Jan was born March 21, 1950, in Agana, Guam, to Lt. Col. Arthur Miles Holtorf and Marilyn Jean (Lee). She graduated from Pullman High School in Washington in 1967 and from Washington State University in 1989, having spent several of the intervening years raising a family and working as a legal assistant. Following Jan’s graduation from Lewis & Clark Law School, she began practicing employment and labor law. She worked for a couple of firms before going out on her own in 2006. Jan also served with many community organizations—including the Rotary Club, the Royal Rosarians, and her HOA board—and enjoyed spending time with friends and family. Jan is survived by her two brothers, two children, two grandchildren, two nieces, and two nephews.