Walter Gary Kasper

Gary attended kindergarten at Abernathy School and eight years at St. Philip Neri School. He graduated from Central Catholic High School and from Portland State University with a degree in business administration.

Gary moved to the San Francisco Bay area in 1965. Gary and Louise Dennis were married June 4, 1966, in Portland. They lived in the Bay Area where daughter Ann was born in 1968. The family returned to Portland where they resided in the same Alameda area house for 43 years. Son Tim was born in 1970.

The family attended St. Andrew Catholic Church and became active in church activities and outreach. Thousands in NE Portland received needed food, furniture and heat and water payments due to his St. Vincent de Paul volunteer work, organizing teams and delivering for more than 50 years. The Boy Scouts continue an annual food drive and delivery that Gary started in 1972 to involve young people and understand poverty.

His enthusiastic volunteerism spread to employees at Liberty Insurance where for 14 years he led a Sharing and Caring drive for furniture, clothing and food for those in need. Gary's tireless efforts were honored with the annual Neil Kelly Award, Liberty's Employee of the Year Award, the Rotary Club's 1996 Distinguished Citizen Award and the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Award from St. Andrew's.

In 2011, Gary and Louise moved to Holladay Park Plaza where his service continued. He chaired the Northeast Emergency Food Program fund collection. In 2014, he organized a volunteer fair to encourage residents to participate in Holladay Park Plaza organizations.

Gary is survived by his wife, Louise of 57 years; daughter, Ann (Hiroki, partner); son, Tim(Julie); granddaughters, Payton, Brinkley and Collins; sister, Beverly Pyne, sister Jeanette Napoleon (deceased); sister-in-law, Artyce Terada; brother-in-law, Louie Napoleon; many nephews and nieces, and a rich legacy of giving to our neighbors.

A funeral Mass will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at St. Andrews Catholic Church, 809 NE Alberta, Portland. Reception in the community center to follow.

Donations may be made to the Kidney Foundation and St. Andrew's Emergency Services-St Andrews.