Remarks by Audrey Bilger, President of Reed College

•    Welcome and thank you for coming to honor Reed alumnus, Moshe Doav Lenske, Reed class of 1950.
•    Moshe was a dyed-in-the-wool Reedie. He spent nearly all of his life within a stone's throw of the college.
•    He grew up in Eastmoreland in a home where Reed faculty and students from the college's early days -- 1930s and 40s -- gathered for weekly dinners  -- so not surprising that he matriculated at the college in 1942.
•    His Reed years were interrupted by his military service in Europe during WWII, but he returned to Reed, studying with legendary professors, Arragon, Knowlton, Griffith, Sisson, Reynolds, Botsford, Chittick -- the same folks who used to gather at his parents’ home when he was a boy.
•    After Reed, Moshe dedicated much of his life in unparalleled service to the college.
To name just a few of his alumni roles:
•    Moshe served as an alumni trustee at Reed from 1992 to 1996. He was a member of the alumni board for over two decades, during which time he also served as president and as chair of the Foster-Scholz steering committee.
•    He participated in Reed's Oral History Project, was a member of his class reunion committee, and received the 2008 Babson Society Award for outstanding alumni volunteers.
Beyond Reed:
•    Moshe was an engaged neighborhood activist and served as a board member of Southeast Uplift.
•    He was a member of the City Club of Portland, the Oregon Art Institute, the Oregon Historical Society, the Nature Conservancy, the Audubon Society, and Friends of Timberline Lodge.
•    Moshe also played an active role in Oregon and national politics. A Democrat, he was elected multiple times to serve as a delegate to the Democratic National Convention and elected multiple times to serve as Secretary of the Oregon Democratic Committee.
•    He was a member of the Wayne Morse Historical Park Board of Trustees for over 40 years.
In conclusion:
•    The list of ways that Moshe has served Reed, Portland, Oregon, and the country is inexhaustible.
•    You will hear more from speakers today who will share stories of their interactions with this incredible man and Reedie, of whom the college could not be more proud.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Celebration of Moshe Lenske on October 13, 2024, 1 PM

Reed College hosted  a celebration of Moshe Lenske, a 1950 alum of the College who died this past summer at age 99.  We gathered in the Reed chapel at 1 PM on October 13. As guests arrived, Rachel Modlin ‘24 played Chopin works that Moshe loved Reed President Audrey Bilger convened the memorial at 1 PM Moshe's first cousin Mark Loring spoke for the Lenske family, and read a note from Moshe's sister, who could not attend in person Reed alum and board member John Sheehy '82 Reed alum Paul Levy '72 Reed alum Jim Kahan' 64 Reed College Advancement Counsel Kathy Saitas Then we saw  a slide show about Moshe, while Rachel Modlin played Chopin's Nocturne Finally, three members of the community spoke:  Johnny Earl, president-elect of SEIU Local 503 and chair of the Wayne Morse Historical Park Diane Rosenbaum '71, former Majority Leader of the Oregon State Senate Congressman Earl Blumenauer We  concluded at about 2 PM with a playing of taps by Ken Aiken We then cl...
Read more

Remarks of Earl Blumenauer, United States Representative

 I, for one, am shocked that this has not taking place six months from now, when most would have hit the centennial.. Some of you were aware of his father, Reuben. They never stopped. Modestly controversial in his own way.  Outspoken, but part of a tradition that we cherish here in Southeast Portland. I knew him over the years, primarily through Democratic activities. Moshe, somebody mentioned, who was it was John, talked about following the rules.  He was a stickler for process. I'm trying to think of how much my life was consumed by meetings that Mosh chaired with the Democratic, Central Committee. Points of order for the Democratic Party, or just for the good of the order. Helping people understand how it should be. Who knew he was a philosophy major? I could believe it.  I could believe it. I have had a lot of experience with Mosh over a half a century.  But I was looking forward to the opportunity to participate here. Not that I'm going to add that much to ...
Read more

Remarks by Kathy Saitas, Reed College Director of Advancement

I am Kathy Saitas. For the past 18 years, it has been my great good fortune to work in Reed’s advancement office as a charitable gift planner. It has been a complete pleasure--and honor--to have known so many alumni… going all the way back to the early 1930s and in every decade in between. When I started at Reed, a friend and former staff member just laughed at me: Working at Reed is not a job, she said, it is a full body contact sport. She was right --- I can say from experience that Reedies are certainly passionate, incredibly smart …. and just so much fun. And Moshe, as you heard from others, occupies a singular place in the Reed pantheon. But, I first met Moshe when I was working as a young lawyer downtown. Moshe confused me with my colleague Laura, and softly yoo-hooed in my direction-- Laaa-uuu--rrra, he--llo. I knew who he was, even if he didn't know me. I walked up and introduced myself. Hi Mr. Lenske, I am Kathy Saitas. I think you might have thought I was Laura Liebman. M...
Read more