Alf Thomas Hjort

Alf Thomas Hjort was born January 30, 1936 in New Rochelle, New York and passed away from complications of lymphoma on November 18, 2023 at the age of 87. His parents were Alf Hjort, Jr. and Frances Josephine (Anderson) Hjort. He was predeceased by his younger sister, Susan Antoinette Nicol. In 1946, the family moved to Portland, Oregon where they bought a home in NW Portland. He attended Chapman Elementary and then Lincoln High School where he was a member of the track and field team. In 1954, he began his studies at Oregon State College (now University). After two years of academic indifference, he took a break to spend a year working for the highway department. This turned out to be a fateful year for Tom, as it was during this year that he met his future wife, Judy, on New Year’s Eve 1956, when his sister Susan invited her over to play monopoly. Liking what he saw, the next day he asked her to a movie (Baby Doll) and by March 1957 they were engaged. They married September 14, 1957 and moved to Corvallis after honeymooning at Crater Lake National Park. He returned to college, earning straight A's the last two years.

After graduating in 1959 with a degree in Civil and Structural Engineering, Tom began his career with the Portland Dock Commission. After a few years of honing and demonstrating his skills, he followed his boss to Swan Wooster, a Canadian engineering company, where he pursued a long and distinguished professional career in civil and structural engineering. He steadily moved up the ladder from engineer to marine manager, to Vice President and Office Manager, and eventually to President of US Operations. The marina at Newport was designed while under his leadership. He continued to work for several more years after Swan Wooster was acquired by URS Consultants and then entered into retirement. A few months later, the Port of Portland approached him about a Project Manager position, which he accepted. Thus he began a 15-year second career at the Port, working on the “other side” with consulting engineers of various projects on Port property, one of which was a ground run-up enclosure for testing jet engines. Many of his work colleagues became friends over the course of his career and he continued to see them regularly.

Tom had a powerful intellect that he brought to bear not only on his work, but on all of his various activities. He was a man of diverse interests and hobbies. At one time he constructed and painted elaborate ship and airplane models in a way that made them look like actual miniature versions of real ones.

He held a deep appreciation for music, in particular Beethoven, Mozart, and Mahler (a recent discovery), listening to his favorites on his car stereo at high volumes that could surprise unguarded passengers when the car was started. He owned the definitive recording of Beethoven's Violin Concerto in D major performed by David Oistrakh. His playing of classical records at home had a profound and lasting impact on the musical tastes and pursuits of his children.

Another of his pastimes was fitness. His children remember seeing him doing pushups as a young man. He jogged several times a week over several decades, and when running was no longer possible, walked religiously, taking the trail up and over Mt. Williams near his home nearly every day. He lifted weights and earlier in life played handball regularly and golfed periodically. He rode a bike for recreation and exercise.

Reading was a serious passion. He delighted in reading history and science books, many of them on relativity and quantum mechanics, making him conversant in those disciplines. He would even dig out his old college textbooks for a re-reading and would work on physics problems for his own personal enjoyment.

He loved nature. Many were the camping and vacation trips enjoyed by his family, through which he instilled in all of them a love of the outdoors. Every year after school was out, his children could count on week-long vacations at coastal beaches in areas like Waldport and Bandon. Camping trips to Fort Stevens, Cape Lookout, the Breitenbush River and the nearby national parks were treasured by all. This being before the ubiquity of towing packages, he would again exhibit his propensity for DIY by wiring the car for the camping trailer himself. Other summer destinations including Sunriver and later Black Butte Ranch, became scenes of family fun on bike trails, tennis courts, and on horseback. Golfing, fishing, and hiking are also part of his legacy. He was particularly adept at teaching how to tie an egg hook to a fishing line.

He actively contributed to the community, volunteering his time and practical expertise as a member of the Trails Committee of the Tualatin Hills Park and Recreation District and more recently as part of the Friends of Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Their efforts at park expansion are expected to bear fruit in the near future.

Like many of the men of his generation, he was committed to hard work and providing for his family. He was steadfast in his beliefs and unwaveringly loyal to his friends and family. His whole life he was engaged with the world and kept up with new developments, technologies, and information: He was the first in the family to own a personal computer.

Tom is survived by his wife Judy, sons Chris and Mark (Melinda), daughters Becky Gray (Steven) and Wendy Hernandez. Grandchildren include Alex (Robin), Larissa (Trevor), Elizabeth (Matt), Monica (Chris) and Jeremy. Great grandchildren include Everett, Clara and Jed. He also was very close to his niece (Diana) and his nephew and his family (Paul, April, Savannah, and Brady).

Donations in his memory may be made to the Tualatin Hills Park Foundation for benefit of Cooper Mountain Nature Park. Their website is www.thpf.org.

A Memorial gathering is scheduled for Monday, December 11, 2023 from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at Pegg, Paxson and Springer Funeral Chapel at 4675 SW Watson Avenue, Beaverton, Oregon 97005. Light refreshments will be served.