Ralph Thomas Nelsen

Dr. Ralph Thomas Nelsen, longtime Portland resident, joined his wife Joan, who preceded him in death, on July 22, their fifty-fifth wedding anniversary. Ralph was born in Jamestown, New York on February 7, 1934. He was a graduate of Oklahoma State University, Oregon State University, Portland State University, and the University of Idaho, where he earned an Ed.D in 1972. During two decades with the Portland Public Schools, he was a pioneer in alternative education and founded the FOCUS program at Madison High School. As a Fulbright Scholar, he lived and taught in Finland in the early1960s, which kindled life-long ties with friends and colleagues and which culminated in an honorary knighthood from the Finnish government for his over forty years of work in strengthening cultural bonds between the US and Finland. He was an associate professor of education at PSU and later founder and director of the Columbia Education Center, a non-profit educational resource.

During his retirement, he and his wife traveled throughout the world, often on cruise ships. He enjoyed his many golf friends at Willamette Valley Country Club and took pleasure in creating a website dedicated to his love of travel and his family.He is preceded in death by his wife Joan. He is survived by his children Laura, Jeanne, John, and Eric, and grandchildren Laudan, Cameron, Thor, Ayn, Jennifer, Eric, Johna, Raymond, Catherine, Danielle, and Madison, and great granddaughter, Erica.

Arrangements under the direction of Lincoln Memorial Funeral Home, Portland, OR.