BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Christi A Cawood, CPA – Secretary / Treasurer
Christi is a CPA who recently joined Schultz & Crouse, PC after 30 years as a sole practitioner. Christi has a degree in business administration from PSU. She has served on several nonprofit boards. Her commitment to choice makes her support of Compassion & Choices of Oregon a natural. Christi enjoys long walks with her dog, yard work, and travel.
Sam Friedenberg, JD
Sam Friedenberg is an elder law attorney with Nay and Friedenberg since 1987. He is one of the original members of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, a volunteer for the Senior Law Project, a member and former Chairman of the Agency and Professional Relations Committee of Elder Law Section of the Oregon State Bar, a member of the Executive Committee of the Elder Law Section, a member of the Uniform Trial Court Rules Committee of the OSB and serves on the Probate Advisory Committee for Multnomah County.
Kirsten Leonard, Vice Chair
Kirsten is the business manager for Lincoln High School. Kirsten has a degree in Psychology from Stanford University. Prior to becoming a business manager she was a stock broker and development director for Fruit & Flowers. She has served and serves on numerous non-profit boards. Her personal experience with death came when her mother died from ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) in 2000.
Julie McMurchie, Chair
Julie is a graduate of Oberlin College in Ohio and Lewis and Clark Northwestern School of Law. She is married to Brad McMurchie and spends her days caring for their three teenagers. Her support of Compassion began in 2001 after her mother, Peggy Sutherland, died using Oregon’s physician aid-in-dying law after a long struggle with lung cancer. Julie is a spokesperson for Compassion and a major supporter. She served as our volunteer coordinator for two years and chaired the annual dinner/auction for three years.
Sue Dessayer Porter
Sue Porter has been a client case manager for Compassion & Choices of Oregon since 2001. Sue helps steward patients with a diagnosis of a terminal illness through the process outlined under Oregon’s unique Death with Dignity Act. Sue also sits on the board of directors of Compassion & Choices – our national organization. She has a business background including an MBA from St. Mary’s College and a Masters of Science in Bioethics from Union Graduate College.
Bobbie Regan
Bobbie is co-chair on the Portland School Board where she has received accolades for her work. Bobbie received her degree from Fredonia State (NY) and worked as a marketing director; in management and communications for businesses and non-profits. Bobbie was also a legislative assistant in the US Congress. She is a mother of two and an avid community activist.
Jeffrey Menashe, MD
Dr. Menashe practices hematology, internal medicine, and oncology in Portland, Oregon. Dr. Menashe graduated from the Oregon Health Science University school of Medicine with a medical degree and has been in the profession for more than 27 years. He brings his passion for the rights of his patients to the board and his expertise in end of life care.
Brian Ruess
Brian sells software for the business of medical research for Click Commerce, Inc. Brian attended the California Institute of Technology, received his undergraduate degree in biology form Reed College, and earned his law degree from Lewis & Clark Law School. He practiced law as an associate with Martin Bischoff and Lane Powell in Portland prior to going into the software business.
ADVISORY BOARD
Renée Holzman, Chair – Holzman Family Foundation
JoAnn Bowman – Bowman Consulting Services
Nancy Bragdon – Reed College Women’s Committee
Ron Cease – former Oregon State Legislator
Gwyneth Gamble-Booth – PGE Foundation
Nicholas Gideonse, MD – Legacy Health Systems
Chris Helmer, JD – Miller Nash
Lin Hendler, JD – attorney
John Howieson, MD – retired neuroradiologist
Marianne Leipzig – community advocate
Marc Linter – small business owner
Dolorosa Margulis – Margulis Jewelers
Sally McCracken – Paul and Sally McCracken Fund
Carolyn McMurchie – community advocate
Fred Miller – Five Stars International
Rev. Frank Moss – Episcopal Church
Laura Murray – community advocate
Christina Nicholaidis, MD – Oregon Health Sciences University
Rev. Catherine Nichols – Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Cheryl Perrin – board member, Compassion & Choices
Peter Rasmussen, MD – retired oncologist
Barbara Roberts – former Oregon Governor
Rabbi Emanuel Rose – Congregation Beth Israel, Rabbi emeritus
Rabbi Kim I. Rosen – Oregon Board of Rabbis
Rev. Robert Schaibly – Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, emeritus
Donna Schuurman – Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families
Rev. William Sinkford – First Unitarian Church
Rabbi Joshua Stampfer – Congregation Neveh Shalom
Rabbi Ariel C. Stone – Congregation Shir Tikvah
Charles Swindells – private attorney
Robert Trotman – Robert Trotman Interior Design
Eric Walsh, MD – Oregon Health Sciences Univerity
Stacie White – Compassion & Choices of Oregon
STAFF
Jason Renaud – Executive Director, jason@compassionoforegon.org
Marina Shuman – Volunteer Coordinator, marina@compassionoforegon.org
Lynn Partin, JD – Legislative Adviser
SENIOR VOLUNTEERS
Michaele Wilk Houston. MA – Client Support Team Coordinator
Nancy Crumpacker, MD – Medical Director Emeritus
Peter Goodwin, MD – Medical Director Emeritus
Peter B. Lyon, MD – Medical Director
Peter Reagan, MD – Medical Director
Susan Smith, RN – Client Support Team Lead – Eugene
Justine Heavilon, PhD – Client Support Team Lead Emeritus – Eugene
