Gene Weston Brockmeyer, 68, of Portland, Ore., died unexpectedly Feb. 28, 2012.
He was born Aug. 12, 1944, in Pasadena, Calif., the youngest son of Gilbert and Alma Brockmeyer.
Brockmeyer was a 1962 graduate of John Muir High School and received a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon. He played center for the University of Oregon basketball team, and was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, Alpha Sigma 1966.
Brother Brockmeyer was a devoted leader for Theta Chi Fraternity, serving on the Board of Directors for the Alpha Sigma Chapter and the National Theta Chi Board of Trustees (now Norwich Housing Corporation). He began his architectural career in Eugene, Ore., and after 20 years, moved to Portland to work for the FFA and Waterleaf firms. He was president of the SW Oregon Chapter of the AIA and president of the Architectural Foundation of Oregon. He was also a member of the board for Habitat for Humanity, Portland, and the University or Oregon Alumni Association.
Below is a message from Alpha Sigma Alumni Board President Tom Smith on Gene's passing, which illustrates his contributions to Theta Chi and Alpha Sigma in particular:
I am afraid I have some very sad news. Brother Gene Brockmeyer passed away on Friday. He died of a massive heart attack. This is a great loss for the fraternity and we send Gene to the Chapter Eternal with our prayers and thoughts. Gene’s wife Marsha is such a trooper and I know that we all send her our love and prayers.
I first met Gene as an undergraduate at Alpha Sigma. He was always my rock. It is a great personal loss for me. I talked and met and worked with him often over the course of 40+ years for our fraternity. He will be missed greatly, his shoes cannot be filled. We are hangin’ his jersey and number 43 up and will always remember his great legacy to Theta Chi and the University of Oregon.
Brockmeyer was an avid Ducks fan, enjoyed the outdoors, canoeing, camping, whitewater rafting, traveling, and spending time with family. He also enjoyed Broadway plays and reunions with his Theta Chi brothers.
He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Marsha Proppe Brockmeyer, two brothers and their wives, Richard and Lois Brockmeyer, and Neal and Molly Brockmeyer, a sister-in-law and her husband, Susan Proppe Tong and Dennis, brother-in-law, Bill Proppe, several nieces, nephews and god children.
A celebration of life will be held at 3:30 p.m. Saturday April 13, at the Multnomah Athletic Club, 1849 SW Salmon St., Portland.
Memorials may be made to the Children’s Cancer Association at www.joyrx.org or to Habitat for Humanity, Portland.