Obituaries

DONALD W. RICHARDSON

Don Richardson passed away peacefully on March 29, 2021. Don was born December 12, 1932, and grew up in Montavilla. He attended Vestal Grade School and graduated from Benson High School in 1951. Don worked as a meat cutter for many years before becoming a meat inspector for the Federal government at the time of his retirement. Don joined the Mazamas in 1948 and earned his Guardian Peaks Award in 1950, while still in high school. Don was a Mazama Life Member at the time of his passing. He was also a member of Mt. Hood Ski Patrol and was a certified ski instructor at Mt. Hood for many years. One of the highlights of his teen years was a father-son skiing trip to Sun Valley via the train, truly high style in the late 1940s. Due to Covid19, there will be no public service. The family asks that in lieu of flowers a remembrance can be made in Don’s name to Mazamas at mazamas.org/donations.

TOM CLAPSHAW

Sadly, my dear sweet dad, Tom Clapshaw, passed away on February 25 at 92 years of age from congestive heart failure. He had been a member of the Mazamas since the early 1950s and treasured the climbs he did with the group. In going through his important papers I found his Summit records—absolutely so special! He climbed Mt. Adams, Mount St. Helens and Mt. Hood at least twice, maybe more! The last time he went up was with my mom, his new bride … and they always told the story of summiting only to have their Mazama [leader] tell them to get down as fast as they could, since a lightning storm had developed. Mom always talked about her hair standing on end due to the electrical charge in the air! They didn’t know at the time, but my mom was pregnant with me, so I count that as my first time summiting Mt. Hood! As a child we took several special trips to Mazama Lodge. We learned to ski on the ski hill with its rope tow, and I remember to this day the special smell of the lodge when we went through the lower level door. Later in life, past their time with children at home, mom and dad started to go on Mazama outings to Europe; Switzerland, Austria ... and had such incredible stories and memories of hiking hut-to-hut with their Mazama friends. Eventually they hung up their passports and stayed closer to home. They loved the outdoors, and loved people so became campground hosts for the State of Oregon, serving along the Oregon Coast at such campgrounds as Cape Lookout, Nehalem Bay and Bullard’s Bay State Parks. It allowed them to share their love of the outdoors with others … and not just the beach! Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and passed away in 2016 … I found her Summit Record as well … the one where I was along for the ride! Cleaning out their home, I found that Dad probably kept every Mazama Bulletin he ever received—which was a lot. I treasure them as well, because the Mazamas were so important to my parents and to the legacy my parents have left behind. They didn’t really get too involved— never led a hike—but were just some of the quiet people who loved the outdoors. Dad was so thrilled to be a “Lifetime Member,” and continue to receive the Bulletins and he always saved them for me. I climbed Mt. Hood for the “2nd” time in 2016 as well as South Sister in 2015 and plan to hike St. Helens next September. I will be submitting an application for membership later this year, to carry on the tradition of a Clapshaw as a member of the Mazamas. We go back a few years, with a picture from the 1930s of my grandparents and their friends from a community near Forest Grove called Hillside, climbing the Hogsback on the way to the top of Mt. Hood. It’s quite a photo! Anyway, sadly, dad is gone and I knew I needed to let you know. Thank you so very much for being part of this amazing organization that was so much a part of my parent’s lives! Sincerely, Linda (Clapshaw) Harrington