Wednesday, May 24, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
23
Obituaries
Hugh John McBride
May 7, 1934 — April 12, 2017
Hugh John McBride was
born on May 7, 1934, in
The Bronx, New York, the
only child of Irish immigrant
parents Jane and Dominic
McBride.
After high school he
attended night school pro-
grams at the City University
of New York while employed
by Bell Telephone, earning
his bachelor’s degree in busi-
ness Administration in1960
in the field of Industrial
Psychology. Ultimately he
made the transition from
business to the field of edu-
cation and earned his Master
of Arts in special education
at Columbia University, New
York, in 1967.
In 1972, he was awarded
a doctorate in special educa-
tion and family sciences at
Michigan State University,
where he remained on faculty
for the next three years.
His career path then led to
the University of the Pacific,
Stockton, California, where
he served from 1975 to 1996.
He came to Pacific at a
time when the nation was
beginning to focus on pro-
viding educational opportu-
nities for exceptional chil-
dren. As founding chair of
the Department of Special
Education, he was a leader
in local and state efforts
to implement educational
opportunities for all students
in the least restrictive envi-
ronment. Hugh trained many
special-education teachers at
the University of the Pacific.
He also provided broad insti-
tutional support for special
education by winning fed-
eral grants and establishing
innovative, cooperative local
internship programs.
These efforts supported
the education of a genera-
tion of teachers and profes-
sionals who would go on to
work at schools and institu-
tions throughout Northern
California. Hugh was named
Benerd School of Education
Distinguished Professor
1979 and 1985. He served as
a mentor for many students.
He was a respected profes-
sor and friend for his stu-
dents; a valued colleague and
a leader and activist in the
community.
Upon retirement from the
University of the Pacific,
Hugh expanded his pri-
vate psychotherapy prac-
tices in Stockton and Tracy,
California, specializing in
couples therapy and addic-
tion treatment. Beyond his
formal training in the field,
Hugh brought to his clients
genuine empathy and a deep
belief in the human capacity
for change.
From 1986 to 2005, Hugh
also served as a facilitator
for the Medical Board of the
State of California, providing
therapy for physicians and
other medical professionals
impaired by alcohol and drug
addiction. Hugh was espe-
cially gifted and compas-
sionate in this work and was
effective in helping many res-
urrect their medical careers
and personal lives.
At the core of Hugh’s
identity was his commitment
to recovery: in November of
2016 he celebrated his 48th
year of continuous sobriety.
Along the way, he inspired
others by his living example,
his words of encouragement,
and his belief in building a
better life one day at a time.
In 2005, he and his wife
retired to Sisters to enjoy
the rural environment and
devote time to Hugh’s favor-
ite activity, horseback riding,
a passion he discovered in
his mid-50s. His adventures
on the trail included riding
through California’s Owens
Valley, Anza-Borrego State
Park, the Sierras, Pt. Reyes
National Seashore, the forests
of Oregon and Idaho, and the
Arizona desert.
Hugh died suddenly on
April 12 in Prescott, Arizona,
in the midst of Easter week,
Agnar “Al” Allen Straumfjord, M.D.
December 1, 1928 — May 7, 2017
an observance that he cel-
ebrated every year with great
reverence. He is survived by
Sandra, his wife of 30 years;
stepson Erik Gunderson and
partner Victoria Wohl of
Toronto, Ontario; brother-in-
law Charles Kinkade and wife
Molly of Tacoma; Robert
Kinkade and wife Jane of
Sydney, Australia, and their
children; and Kelly Kinkade
Kott and husband Jim of
Kirkland, Washington and
their children; Erin Kinkade
Christensen and husband
Andy of Bow, Washington.
Hugh’s kind, patient, and
loving spirit will be greatly
missed.
A memorial service will
be held at Episcopal Church
of the Transfiguration, 68825
Brooks Camp Road, Sisters,
on Saturday, May 27, at 11
a.m.
Memorial contributions
can be made to Bethlehem
Inn, a program dedicated
to transforming lives with
shelter, help and hope. The
address is P.O. Box 8540,
Bend, OR 97708, or contri-
butions may be made online
at www.bethleheminn.org.
Agnar Allen Straumfjord,
M.D., died peacefully in his
sleep May 7, 2017, at his
home in Sisters, Oregon. “Al”
was born December 1, 1928,
to Jon Vidalin Straumfjord,
M.D. and Thorey Thorderson
Straumfjord and was raised in
Astoria, Oregon, the middle
child of three brothers.
A graduate of Astoria
High School, he attended
Willamette University and
the University of Oregon
Medical School, now OHSU,
earning his medical degree
and completing residencies
there in internal medicine and
psychiatry. He served in the
United States Navy as a flight
surgeon and readily admit-
ted he only spent one day at
sea. He had special interest
in providing student health-
care, both at Oregon State
University and at OHSU
where he was a professor in
the Department of Psychiatry.
Later he practiced psychiatry
in Corvallis for many years,
followed by work at Oregon
State Hospital and the Benton
County Mental Health Clinic.
Al had Agnar Allen Jr. and
Karen Lee with his first wife,
Louise Ulvin. In 1973, he
and Marianne Sawin Sanders
married and he added his son
Peter to his family. In 1975,
they moved to a large farm in
Albany, Oregon, followed by
many years in Camp Sherman
and Sisters. He loved the
farm but eventually retired to
his beloved Central Oregon.
“Doctor Al” was known for
his vast range of knowledge
in a multitude of areas, his
special love for his Icelandic
heritage, and anything to do
with railroads. His support
of his children and wife was
neverending.
He was preceded in death
by his parents; his son, Agnar
Allen, Jr.; and his brother,
Robert. He is survived by
his wife, Marianne; his chil-
dren, Karen (John) Timmers
and Peter Straumfjord; his
brother, Jon Straumfjord
M.D.; his grandchildren,
Kristjana, Jens, Steen,
Johann, and Kaisa; great-
grandchild Ezra; and many
special nieces and nephews.
An open house to cel-
ebrate his life will be held
June 3, 2017, from 1 to 4
p.m. at the family home.
Donations in his honor may
be made to the Marianne
and Al Straumfjord Family
Scholarship Trust at Oregon
Health Sciences University.
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