Andy Raubeson, of Portland, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack on February 26, 2016.

He was predeceased by his parents, Earle Peter Raubeson and Marie Gertrude (Cameron) Raubeson, his six brothers (Colin, Robert, Hugh Allan, John, Cameron, Charles) and one sister (Emily Marie Raubeson Vance).

He is survived by his children, Linda Ann Raubeson and Walter Cameron Raubeson, his former spouses (Virginia Keefe Raubeson and Catharine (Kitty) Church) as well as many nieces and nephews and their children.

Raised in an orphanage, Andy lived a life in service of others and he accomplished much. He renovated, built and ran more housing for the homeless than perhaps any other person — in Los Angeles and in Portland.

Andy started his public service in the military during the Korean War, where he met his first wife when both served in the U.S. Air Force at McCord Air Force Base. He worked in the Tacoma Police Department during his years of obtaining a bachelor’s degree at the University of Puget Sound. Andy quickly got involved in the War on Poverty, working as Program Development Director for Community Progress Inc. in the 1960s in New Haven, Connecticut. Andy came to Portland in 1971 as the Deputy Director of the Model Cities program under Charles Jordan.

Then Andy was the founding Executive Director of the Burnside Consortium, the organization which purchased and renovated a number of old buildings in Portland and is now named Central City Concern. Andy ran them as «Single Room Occupancy» (SRO) housing for the homeless. The national recognition he received for this work caught the attention of Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley who was facing a large skid row population. Andy was to renovate more than 1, 100 units in more than 15 old buildings in Los Angeles while operating them for the homeless as the Executive Director of SRO Housing Corp. Andy returned to Portland to consult in the housing field and to act as Executive Director of Human Solutions, the East Portland family housing non-profit.

Andy was in service to others until the end, teaching classes in history for seniors in his retirement.

While Andy led a life to be admired, he also led one to be envied. He was a voracious reader, and loved the theater, having seen every play of August Wilson, some of them multiple times. Andy had season tickets to the symphony, but also to the Dodgers in Los Angeles and the Blazers in Portland, and he always took others with him. For many years, Andy put together a winter «sun break» trip to Mazatlan, Mexico for dozens of his Portland friends. In his every other Monday night poker game, which Andy hosted for several years, Andy was known as the best teller of jokes, which he told with excellent timing and panache. Andy loved to garden, and to cook for others, which he did to the very end.

He was a good father, devoted to Linda and Walter. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends.

There will be a Celebration of Andy’s life at the First Congregational Church, at 1126 SW Park Ave, Portland in the Fellowship Hall from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on what would have been Andy’s 80th birthday — April 23rd, Saturday. Guests are welcome to bring a favorite dish they shared with Andy, photos and remembrances, and favorite stories about him. As Andy so loved good food and drink, family will also be providing food.