Image provided by: Clackamas Community College; Oregon City, OR
About The Clackamas print. (Oregon City, Oregon) 1989-2019 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 26, 2000)
b_______ __ Tribute WcdNEsdAy, J anuary 26, 2000 TR e CI ac I camas P rint In memory of SHELBI WESCOTT Feature Editor for Brian and his family. Overcoming disabilites “A doctor once told me that if There is a quote that says, Brian did one thing in a day, it was “Some people come into our lives us doing 20 or 30 things in a day. He and quickly go. Some people stay did so much, he worked three times for awhile, leave footprints on our harder than we do,” Darlene Scott, hearts and we are never, ever the Brian’s older sister, said. same.” Brian Trapp, a devoted son, At the time of his death, Brian was brother and student at Clackamas, working early in the morning deliv was the type of per ering the Or son who left his egonian, then footprints on your he would heart. come to “I feel honored to school for call him my friend,” most of the Kathie Woods, day and then head volleyball go home to coach and one of continue with Brian’s instructors, some of his Kathie Woods said. “He would go other tasks. Instructor around and say H e hello to complete never let his disability slow him down, he knew strangers. The privi leged people are the ones who said that he could accomplish anything ‘hi’back.” he wanted to. He went for every- I thing full force. He wanted to get i the most out of life [ he could. Brian's Childhood Bom April 7,1953, Brian was the third of four children to Dairell and Verna Trapp. Due to complications with labor, Brian suffered from a lack of oxygen to his brain and he was bom with mild mental retarda tion. From a young age, Brian’s imagi nation would soar. He would spend hours playing outside on his family’s acreage; his hand was his sword and the shadows were dan gerous dragons breathing fire. Vivid stories whirled around inside Brian’s head and his creativity never ceased to amaze his family. Diane Robinson, Brian’s younger sister, recounted a time when her brother broke out into song on their bus on the way to school. “I was so embarrassed,” she said, at his funeral on January 18. Even though school proved to be a struggle for Brian, he pushed forward and worked hard to gradu ate from Rex Putnam High School. In June of 1970, Brian’s name was called as he approached the stage to receive his high school diploma, an exciting achievement “He went for everything full force,” Woods commented. “He wanted to get the most out of life that he could. He knew he had chal lenges, but that never slowed Him down.” Brian worked various jobs during his lifetime. He drove a school bus for several years and he also worked as an umpire for little league games. Sometimes his family would come and watch the games that he officiated and they were always impressed by die way Brian handled himself against the rude, harassing parents. Woods recalled a time when die saw Brian crouching behind home plate all by himself, as she was driving by the college’s baseball fields. She stopped the car and watched as he gave signs to the invisible players. “You’re out!” He yelled, then “Strike one.” “Hey Brian? What are you doing?” Woods asked. Brian turned around with asmileon his face and replied, “I’m practicing.” Life at Clackamas Sports were a huge part of Brian’s life. He loved to watch all the different athletic events oftelevision, but mainly he loved to participate in anything ath- The Trapp family gathered together during a family picnic. [L-R] Older brother Jerry, Mom Verna, older sister Darlene, younger sister Diane and Brian with Tasha (the family dog). letic. The majority of classes he took at Clackamas were dedicated toward his love of sports. Brian wasn’t working toward any degree, because he already had received an Associate degree from Mt Hood Community College before attending Clackamas. He came to Clackamas because he loved to learn and he loved to keep active. Over his 13 years as a student at Clackamas, Brian took golf, swimming, badminton, bowling, tennis, weight training, and most recently, horse back riding. He also took a variety of academic courses including speech, psychology, many health and fit ness classes and more. Woods was Brian’s swimming in structor and she remembered them joking and having a good time while he worked hard to keep up with the other swimmers in the class. “One time,” Woods said, “I made a joke and he started to laugh so hard that he began to choke and sputter. I said to him, ‘Brian, don’t laugh while had a smile on his face and he was genuinely interested in how people were doing. “I keep seeing him in the halls,” Devoted friend, son and brother Woods said, as she looks out into At Brian’s last hospital visit, he the busy hallway outside her of received a clean-bill of health. So, fice. “It hasn’t hit me that he’s when Brian passed away on Janu gone.” ary 14, outside Everyone who Randall Hall in the knew Brian had arms of his be something loved teacher and wonderful to friend Kathie say about him. Woods, his death His kindness, was a shock to his warm personal friends and family. ity and desire “We were plan Darlene Scott to learn was ning on going on Sister evident in the a trip to the coast way he inter in April. He had acted with his never been to the instructors, students and com coast before ” Scott said. “He had plete strangers. been on many trips before: a heli So, goodbye friend, goodbye copter trip in Alaska, Hawaii and a Brian. In your short time on this dude ranch in Montana, but he earth you have left footprints on never got to see the coast.” all the hearts of those lucky Woods says that Brian’s pres enough to know you. encewill be greatly missed on cam You will be missed. pus. He was the type who always Photos contributed by Verna Trapp you’re still in the water.’ And he replied, ‘Yeah,thatwouldbeagood idea.’” He did so much, he worked three times harder than we do.
