The BulleTin • Sunday, May 30, 2021 A7
Tobiason
GAVIN MACLEOD • 1931-2021
Continued from A1
Actor cracked jokes
on ‘Mary Tyler Moore’
It will be the 16th year Tobi-
ason has held the event at the
park and placed flags along the
Newport Bridge next to the
memorial.
“It needs to be done,” Tobi-
ason said. “Simple as that. It
needs to be done.”
Tobiason, chairman of the
Bend Heroes Foundation, a
nonprofit organization he cre-
ated 11 years ago, is involved
year-round with veterans
events and holidays in Central
Oregon. His work has grown
into establishing memorial
highways across the state and
country, and leading the Cen-
tral Oregon Veterans Village
project to help homeless vet-
erans.
Local veterans say they
would not get the same rec-
ognition and support without
Tobiason.
“If Dick wasn’t doing that, I
don’t know who would,” said
Don DeLand, honor guard
captain for the Redmond VFW
and American Legion. “When
he gets his teeth into some-
thing, he doesn’t let go.”
DeLand is impressed with
how Tobiason works with the
Oregon Legislature and law-
makers in other states to ap-
prove the memorial highways.
“Not everybody has that ex-
pertise or that time and ded-
ication to do that and go talk
to the legislatures and push for
bills,” DeLand said.
Tobiason has traveled to
Salem to advocate at the state
capital at least once a year for
the past 14 years. And he’s
driven at least 5,000 miles to all
the memorial highways he es-
tablished in the state. For many
state lawmakers, Tobiason is
the face of veteran’s issues in
Central Oregon.
“I’ve always felt I’ve had the
interest and the energy and
the time,” Tobiason said. “And
I wanted to get these things
done. It’s just to make sure vet-
erans are not forgotten.”
Tobiason is reminded daily
of his own military service. He
still has shrapnel stuck in his
lungs and his forehead from a
hand grenade blast during his
first tour in Vietnam in 1967.
He earned a Purple Heart after
surviving the attack.
He served as an Army pi-
lot for 20 years, including his
time flying Cessnas in Viet-
nam as a scout for fighter
jets. After Vietnam, Tobiason
worked for President Nixon on
the National Aeronautics and
Space Council, which oversees
NASA, with Apollo 8 astronaut
William Anders. Tobiason
went on to careers with NASA,
the National Transportation
Safety Board and as a commer-
cial pilot.
During his time in the
Army, Tobiason met his wife
Mary Jane while in Germany.
The two have been married 60
years and have two sons and
seven grandchildren.
Tobiason’s family still sup-
ports his dedication to helping
other veterans, even during
weeks when he’s working 60 to
80 hours instead of fishing and
camping.
“My sons see it as a way of
using my time wisely,” Tobia-
son said.
Erik Tobiason, a 51-year-old
financial advisor in Bend and
the youngest of two sons, said
he is inspired by his father ev-
eryday and supports his efforts.
“He’s the energizer bunny.
He’s a complete inspiration,” he
said. “I don’t know if I can find
anybody who is as dedicated
to the cause and diligent about
fulfilling a vision.”
Erik Tobiason helped his fa-
ther establish the Bend Heroes
Foundation as a way to create
a lasting legacy and encour-
age others to get involved. The
foundation has a board of nine
people and a volunteer base of
about 40 people.
“The vision is to help veter-
ans,” Erik Tobiason said. “That
will last forever.”
The elder Tobiason has been
thinking about his legacy more
often lately. He doesn’t know
how many more years he will
spearhead veterans events, but
he’s at peace knowing every-
thing he’s wanted to accom-
plish is done, or in the process
of being completed.
“I’m on the downhill
stretch,” Tobiason joked.
Tobiason, who was born in
Boston and spent most of his
working life in Virginia, retired
to Bend in 1990, when the
town had about 20,000 people
and hardly any memorials for
New York Daily News
Ryan Brennecke/The Bulletin
Retired Army Lt. Col. Dick Tobiason, 86, is the Bend Heroes Foundation chairman and has organized veterans
events around Central Oregon for the past 18 years.
Memorial Day in Central Oregon
Bend
• 7 to 7:45 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at the Bend Heroes Memorial
at Brooks Park. The Bend Heroes Foundation, Boy Scout Troop 25 and
volunteers will install flags at the memorial and on the Veterans Me-
morial Bridge on Newport Avenue.
• 1 p.m. Memorial Day service at Deschutes Memorial Gardens. Flags
will be placed on the graves of veterans and retired U.S. Army Col. Pa-
mela Mindt will speak.
• 8 a.m. to 11:30 p.m, the organization We Are Remembering — Not
Just a Number will gather all day at Troy Field in downtown Bend to
read the names, ages and hometowns of every U.S. serviceperson
killed in Afghanistan since 2001 and in Iraq since 2003.
Redmond
• 11 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at the Redmond Memorial Ceme-
tery, 3545 South Canal Blvd. Hosted by Redmond VFW.
Terrebonne
• 9:30 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at the Pioneer Cemetery, 1340 NE
Smith Rock Way.
Prineville
• 10 to 11 a.m., Memorial Day Parade from downtown to the fair-
grounds, 1280 Main St. for a re-dedication of the veterans memorial
and flagpole.
Madras
• 10 a.m., Memorial Day ceremony at Mt. Jefferson Memorial Ceme-
tery on Northeast Chapel Street.
veterans.
“I didn’t see any flags,” Tobi-
ason said. “I didn’t see any me-
morials.”
Eighteen years ago, Tobia-
son met Robert “Bob” Maxwell,
a World War II veteran and a
Medal of Honor recipient. Max-
well served as an Army Techni-
cian and jumped on a German
grenade in September 1944,
saving the lives of four Amer-
ican soldiers. For his heroics,
Maxwell received the Medal
of Honor, the nation’s highest
medal for valor and bravery. He
died May 11, 2019, at 98.
Tobiason called himself
Maxwell’s promoter and made
sure the veteran’s story was
shared over the years. Tobiason
was motivated by Maxwell to
start creating events and me-
morials in the city. The work
led to the creation of the Bend
Heroes Memorial in 2009
Tobiason thinks of Maxwell,
and other World War II vet-
erans, every time he visits the
memorial in Brooks Park.
“These are the people who
Bernard R. Shapen
of Bend, OR
January 23, 1930 - April 7,
2021
Arrangements:
Niswonger-Reynolds
Funeral Home is honored
to serve the family. 541-
382-2471 Please visit the
online registry for the fam-
ily at www.niswonger-reyn-
olds.com
Services:
A gathering of Family will
be held at a later date
Contributions may be
made to:
Ronald McDonald House
1700 NE Purcell Blvd,
Bend, OR 97701
William Michael Gae-
tano of Sunriver, OR
(born in Spokane, WA)
March 27, 1949 - May 12,
2021
Born Again of the Spirit of
GOD. May 2, 2021 Forever
abiding in the Loving arms
of The Lord Jesus Christ in
the Heavenly Realm.
Celebration of Life Service:
Saturday June 5, 2021
Start around 11am -12
noon 17141 Norwalk Rd.
Sunriver. Hope to see you
there!
OBITUARY DEADLINE
Call to ask about our deadlines
541-385-5809
Monday-Friday 10am-3pm
Email: obits@bendbulletin.com
saved the world from tyranny,”
Tobiason said. “The memori-
als are important to remember
what they did for the world.”
Tobiason enjoys seeing other
people stop and soak in the
“I’ve always felt I’ve
had the interest and
the energy and the
time. And I wanted
to get these things
done. It’s just to
make sure veterans
are not forgotten.”
— Dick Tobiason, who maintains
Bend Heroes Memorial in Brooks
Park to honor the veterans listed
on the plaque
memorial, the largest one in
Central Oregon. Whenever he
cleans the granite and brick, he
watches people read the names
of veterans and become emo-
tional.
It’s a powerful experience for
people and something Tobia-
son is proud to make possible.
“That’s how we got our free-
doms,” Tobiason said. “We
stand on their shoulders and
we want to protect their heri-
tage and legacy.”
e e
Reporter: 541-617-7820,
kspurr@bendbulletin.
OBITUARY
JoAnne Brizee
October 4, 1939 - May 12, 2021
JoAnne was born in Vale, Oregon
to Robert Smith and Alice (Tolson)
Smith. Her brother Bob was 10
years older. She graduated from
Parma (Idaho) High School in
1957, and was a member of
Kappa Kappa Gamma at Oregon
State University, graduati ng with
a Bachelor of Science degree in
1961. JoAnne’s loyalty to her
alma mater was so strong that
her family “always rooted for the Beavers, and anyone
playing the Ducks!” Her friends teased her with buying
her University of Oregon memorabilia, and once put a U
of O bumper sti cker on her car.
JoAnne moved to San Francisco aft er college, and worked
as executi ve secretary for Bob Stover at Western Girl. She
later worked for the founder of Young Life, Jim Rayburn, in
Colorado Springs, and was also executi ve secretary to Ms.
Johnson and Ms. Hertzler of Bible Study Fellowship.
In 1964 she married Harry Brizee at Mt. Hermon Chapel
in the Santa Cruz mountains. Harry was a police offi cer for
Berkeley Police Department, and they lived in Oakland,
California. In 1971 they had a daughter, Amy. They
moved to Bend in 1978, and JoAnne worked as secretary
for Tumalo School, and later for Xytec and Tektronix.
Aft er reti rement she started her own business “Creati ve
Clutt er”, which showed her fl air for design and decorati ng,
and her eye for anti ques.
JoAnne was a fantasti c seamstress, a math whiz, a master
gardener, and a beauti ful dancer. She was an expert at
shorthand and was able to type 100 words per minute.
She had a quick wit and an easy sense of humor. She had
unwavering faith in Jesus and His Word, and scripture was
usually included in beauti ful notes she wrote to her family.
She loved gospel music and songs of faith, and said she
knew she would have a beauti ful singing voice when she
got to heaven. She is survived by her husband of 57 years,
Harry, their daughter Amy, and many wonderful nieces
and nephews. We miss her more than words can say.
“It is Well with My Soul”. Horati o Spaff ord and composer
Phillip Bliss.
“Thou has turned my mourning into dancing.” Psalms
30:11 NIV
Gavin MacLeod, who
cracked wise on “The Mary
Tyler Moore Show” and
guided “The Love Boat” with
a steady hand, has died at 90.
The actor died Saturday
morning, his nephew, Mark
See, told Variety. No cause of
death was given, but Variety
reported that he had been in
poor health in recent months.
MacLeod shot to fame
with his portrayal of Murray
Slaughter on “The Mary Tyler
Moore Show,” where he played
the head news writer for a TV
station where Moore worked.
Co-star Ed Asner paid trib-
ute to his colleague and noted
that now he and Betty White
are the only cast members re-
maining.
“My heart is broken,” As-
ner tweeted, with a picture
of himself and MacLeod.
“Gavin was my brother, my
partner in crime (and food)
and my comic conspirator.
I will see you in a bit Gavin.
Tell the gang I will see them
in a bit. Betty! It’s just you and
me now.”
After “The Mary Tyler
Moore Show” ended its run.
MacLeod played the beloved
Captain Merrill Stubing on
the hit show “The Love Boat”
for 10 years, appearing in 250
episodes.
He was born Alan George
See in Mount Kisco, West-
chester County, in southeast-
ern New York and grew up in
Pleasantville. After graduating
from Ithaca College and serv-
ing in the Air Force, he moved
to New York City, working at
Radio City Music Hall while
looking for acting gigs.
After minor roles in TV
and film, he landed a part in
the 1959 “Operation Petti-
coat,” which gave him wider
exposure and led to two sub-
sequent roles for the film’s di-
rector, Blake Edwards.
MacLeod worked steadily
throughout the 1960s, in-
cluding doing 73 episodes
of “McHale’s Navy,” and had
just finished the film “Kelly’s
Heroes” when Moore and
her producer/husband Grant
Tinker contacted him about
her upcoming show.
OBITUARY
Bobbye Cullen DeCook
November 15, 1939 - May 3, 2021
Bobbye passed
away peacefully
at the age of 81.
Bobbye
lived
a life, rich in
experiences and
friendships. She
was born in Wild
Cherry, Arkansas
to Cleffi e and
Garland Staggs
but they moved to West Plains, Missouri when
Bobbye was around 5 to promote their children’s
educati on. There she grew up among a large and
close family and began her fi rst career as a medical
technician. She left West Plains and moved to
Kansas City where she met and married a TWA
captain, Bernie Cullen. They moved to San Francisco
but early in their marriage Bobbye was widowed
when Bernie had a tragic drowning accident.
Bobbye was a real estate agent in Marin when she
met Fred DeCook, the man she would be married
to for 47 years. Fred was building his own real
estate fi rm and she became the training director
for new people coming into the business through
his fi rm. But she loved anti ques and appreciated
beauti ful furnishings, so she opened a small shop
in San Anselmo, CA. It was so successful that she
then opened a large and quite prosperous store in
San Francisco, where she catered to the decorator
trade. For 25 years she traveled to France and
England twice a year culti vati ng her enormous
interest in anti ques, art, food and culture. Fred
went with her on many of those trips. They enjoyed
living in San Francisco and built a home in Sti nson
Beach and then lived in Healdsburg, CA for 10
years. They sett led in Bend in 2004 to be close to
her aunt, Dee Davis and her husband, Jim Davis.
She kept in frequent touch with her lifelong friends
in Marin, CA and family in Missouri.
Bobbye was a true Renaissance woman. She sang,
taught dance at Arthur Murray Studios in Kansas
City, was a voracious reader, an avid Bridge player
and a superb cook. She was known as the “Sauce
Queen” among friends who parti cipated in her
frequent social events where good food, wine and
conversati on held sway.
Bobbye loved the natural world. She was a Master
Gardener and every year she would plant a rich and
colorful garden. As she aged, she simply recruited
others to assist her in this endeavor so that she
could be surrounded by nature.
Everyone who knew Bobbye liked her. She and Fred
were a wonderful team. She had a sense of humor
that put people at ease. Filled with warmth and
fabulous taste, she made friends feel at home and
welcomed. She is and will be missed by many.
Bobbye is predeceased by her parents, Cleffi e and
Garland Staggs, her fi rst husband Bernie Cullen, her
brother, Wayne Staggs, and her sister, Bett y Webb.
She is survived by her husband, Fred DeCook, her
three stepsons Jack DeCook, his wife Kersti n (their
children Allyssa, Kylee and Jake), Thomas DeCook,
and Peter DeCook, her nephew Justi n Jones and his
wife Louise (their children Logan and Emily), and
her Aunt Dee Davis and grandson, Jesse Colson.
May Bobbye’ garden of love forever bloom in our
hearts.
Donati ons in her memory can be made to the
Humane Society.
A Celebrati on of Life is being planned for August in
Bend.