O R E G O N S LE S B IAN/GAY/B l/T RA N S/QUE E R N E W SM A G A Z IN E
JANUARY 7 2011 5
LETTERS
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LETTERS
“Reeled In" Post Repeal?
T o T h e E d it o r :
Personally, I don’t have a clue why any self-
respecting queer would even consider joining
the military despite the pitiful bennies one
gets in return. But then, I’m anti-war, which is
irrelevant to sexual orientation anyway.
I suspect the real reason [the] “Don’t ask,
don’t tell” (D A D T) repeal is being consid
ered (have you heard this before?) is that the
military is tired o f recruiting from a pool of
morally and socially bankrupt petty criminals,
high school dropouts, grade school dropouts,
functional illiterates and losers, to open the
door to our sweet, smart, intelligent gay men
and women.
Contrary to what some think, the repeal
o f D A D T is actually us (the queers) doing
a favor to the heteros. I’d say we could tie
our participation in the military (for those
so inclined) to first, repeal o f the Defense o f
Marriage Act (D O M A ) and second, instate
ment o f the rights o f full citizenship to all
G L B T people.
But my advice to all potential military
recruits is, don’t bite the hook that dangles in
front of you. You will be reeled in to be brain
washed and fucked over big time.
Kim Bailer, RN
Gladstone , Ore.
TRANSITIONS
Athanasios “Saki” Katsavopoulos
June 2 8 ,1947-Dec. 19,2010
A native o f Patras, Greece, Saki came to
Portland in 1974 as a merchant seaman and
fell in love with Sotiria “Sandra” Katchis;
they married that year and had two sons,
Leftheri and Ianni. As a youth in Greece he
served as an elite Evzone guard in the army
and won bouts as a prize fighter.
In Portland he first worked at Portland
Bottling Co. and later for his late mother-
in-law, Georgia Katchis, in the family busi
ness, Three Sisters Tavern. Eventually he
and Sandra took ownership o f it, which they
developed in its last decades into an estab
lishment friendly to Portland’s downtown
gay community, with entertainment famous
along the entire West Coast.
Saki was known for a boisterous, em
bracing warmth and an engaging, tough but
sweet manner. He held listeners spellbound
by fierce, heavily accented storytelling o f
world exploits. H is most cherished blessings
in retirement were his grandchildren, Isa
bella, Georgia and Athanasios. Along with
them, his wife and sons, he is also survived
by his mother Kalliope and siblings Maria,
Theodoros and Christos o f Patras, Greece;
daughter-in-law Nikki; sisters-in-law Maria
Boyer and Pauline Gustafson and husband
Michael; five nephews, one niece, grand-
nephews/niece; and the extended Bakouros,
ChalkiopouloSjTsirimiagos and Boyer fami
lies o f Portland.
Services were held on December 22
(Trisagion) and December 23 (funeral) at
Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in
Portland. Memorial gifts are suggested to
the Wounded Warrior Project.
Donald Baker Ross
May 1 7 ,1935-Dec. 20,2010
Don Ross surprised everyone with his
TO THE EDITOR
early departure December 20, 2010. His last
words were, “Please bring me my iPad.”
Don was born M ay 17,1935, in Portland
to Cecil J. Ross, M .D . and Lucy Baker Ross.
He was the youngest o f four children and
was predeceased by his brothers, Jack Ross
and W illiam Ross, M .D .
Following in his father’s footsteps, Don
graduated from Washington High School
in 1953. After graduating, he attended W il
lamette University where he was a Sigma
Chi and, most importantly, met the love o f
his life and future wife, Joanne Lindstrom.
In 1958 Don graduated from Oregon State
College (now University) with a Bachelor
o f Science in mechanical engineering and
a Bachelor o f Arts in business. A s owner o f
Brett-Ross, Inc. for 30 years, Don was a re
spected member o f the business community
and enjoyed the people he worked with as a
manufacturers’ representative.
From a young age, Don was attracted to
things mechanical and electrical. His mother
quietly allowed (and apparently secretly en
joyed) that he turned her 1950 Ford into a
coveted hot rod. Don’s family benefited from
the many electronic devices he built for them.
However, not much surpassed his pleasure in
racing his custom M ini for the last 10 years.
A member o f numerous car clubs, Don’s pas
sion for cars and collecting culminated in his
collection o f over 15,000 H ot Wheels toys.
Avid travelers, Don and Joanne stopped
counting at 50 countries. Two African safaris;
visiting his mother’s birthplace in La Paz, Bo
livia; and recently touring Poland for Chopin’s
200th birthday were but a few destinations.
A strong believer in civic engagement,Don
was on the Multnomah County Republican
Central Committee for 20 years, a part o f the
Multnomah County Cable Regulatory Task
Force, Wood Village Planning Commission,
Wood Village City Council and a member
o f Trumpeters, a Republican businessmen’s
Toastmasters’ group, for 23 years.
After 49 years as a proud and active Re
publican, he no longer felt at home in the
party. In 2008 he registered as a Democrat
and was excited to vote for President Obama.
For the last 20 years, he has been highly re
garded for his unwavering support and assis
tance to the gay community through Parents,
Families and Friends o f Lesbians and Gays
(P F L A G ), Equity Foundation and Basic
Rights Oregon.
Family and friends will always remember
Don for his sense o f humor, positive disposi
tion, exemplary moral compass and uncon
ditional love. Don is survived by his wife o f
54 years, Joanne Lindstrom Ross; children,
Becky Raz,Tonette Ross and Fred Ross; five
grandchildren; and sister, Margaret Claire.
A celebration o f Don’s life took place on
December 28 at M cM enamins Edgefield
Manor. Remembrances may be sent to Equity
Foundation, P F L A G Portland or the Prostate
Cancer Program at O H S U Foundation.
CORRECTION
A story in our December 17 issue incor
rectly reported the organizer o f a queer dance
night [ Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 35-36, “The Year in
Nightlife”]. Gayborhood is organized by DJ
SkyPimp; D J Alicious is a guest performer.
We regret the error.
CREDIT
Ju st Out neglected to credit the photogra
pher o f our December 17 issue’s cover image
o f Portland Mayor Sam Adams. It was taken
by Thomas Le Ngo/TriM et.
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