Spring 2026 59 BENTON COUNTY REMEMBRANCE LINDA MODRELL, ’81, MBA ’89 Linda Modrell died Nov. 8, 2025. She was 82. A four-term Benton County commissioner, she helped establish three county natural areas and develop a network of community health clinics serving low-income residents. But her most memorable act as a public servant came in March 2004, when she voted to stop issuing all marriage licenses until same-sex couples had the right to marry. The decision sparked both a recall effort and national media attention. The standoff lasted five months before the commission began issuing licenses again. Oregon legalized same-sex marriage a decade later, just months before she retired. “She was a force to be reckoned with — in a good way,” longtime Corvallis City Councilor George Grosch told the Philomath News. Before politics, Modrell worked on the team that developed the Oregon Health Plan as well as for Oregon State University. She is survived by her partner, Keith McCreight, Ph.D. ’81; her sons, Brett Modrell, ’86, and Jason Modrell, ’89; a sister and two brothers; and three grandchildren. Park, MD • George Harmon Constantine Jr, ’66, Portland, OR • Ronald Wendell Kirsher Jr., ’66 • Robert John McKittrick, ’66, Springfield, OR • Robert James Sherman, ’66 ’69, Saint Paul, MN • Peter Guild Pittock, ’67, Portland, OR • George Carter Sharp Jr., ’67 ’68 ’69, Lakewood, WA, Alpha Tau Omega • Samuel T. Tani, ’67, Benson, AZ • Helen Kelley, ’69, Portland, OR, Kappa Delta • Linda Nell Sharp, ’69, San Francisco, CA 1970s Michael S. White, ’70 ’72, Sacramento, CA, Phi Delta Theta • Marvin E. Brownell, ’71, Sun Lakes, AZ • Anthony J. George Jr., ’71, Scottsdale, AZ • Bareld Egge Groenwold, ’71, Heathsville, VA • Donna Sue Johnson, ’71, Golden, CO • Michael A. McKillip, ’71, Tualatin, OR • Kenneth F. Meeuwsen, ’71, Cornelius, OR, Alpha Gamma Rho • John Louis Normandin, ’72, Pendleton, OR • Jon R. Brazier, ’73, Medford, OR • Louis Charles Grothaus IV, ’73 ’75, Seattle, WA • Mark R. Knox, ’73, Camas, WA, Delta Chi • Karl W. Love, ’73, Coos Bay, OR • Sam P. Starfas, ’73, Santa Barbara, CA • Jeffrey A. Zinn, ’73, Fairfax, VA • Kevin Carson Bacon, ’74, Tacoma, WA • Kelly Stovall Frost, ’75, Tucson, AZ • Michael E. Boren, ’76, Saint Helens, OR • Jere Ky Putnam, ’76, Corvallis, OR • Gustav Rand Alberthal, ’77, Portland, OR • Cindy Elaine Morrill, ’77, Avondale, AZ • David Leslie Carlson, ’78, Maple Valley, WA • Michael Szramek, ’78, Walla Walla, WA 1980s John Robert Vandehey, ’81, Portland, OR • Gail Barbara Nickerson, ’82, Corvallis, OR • David Neil Schmitt, ’82 ’86, Richardson, TX • Susan Keiko Sasano, ’83 ’85, Salem, OR • Nicholas John Smith, ’84, Nanaimo, BC • Roger C. Bonzer, ’85, Beaverton, OR • Karen Kennette Pixler, ’85, Murrieta, CA • Caroline Frances Norelius, ’86, Wilmington, NC 1990s Daniel Harvey Jones, ’90, Corvallis, OR • Eileen Joyce Larkin, ’90, Elgin, OR 2000s Daniel Katz, ’01, McMinnville, OR • Colin Daniel Poellot, ’01, Tully, NY • X iaowei Tian, ’11, Corvallis, OR • Caroline Marie Moses, ’18, Corvallis, OR • Mitchell Keith Freeman, ’25, Corvallis, OR Students Molly Lillian Nelson, Portland, OR • Ronith Singh Sethi, Salem, OR • Merrick Mavi Woldridge, Portland, OR Faculty, Staff and Friends Olaf A. Boedtker, Corvallis, OR • James Michael Caldwell, Salem, OR • Dave Conser, Castle Rock, CO • Evin Gary Hodge, Portland, OR • Evan Jaqua, Portland, OR • Joan Johanson • Daniel To share losses with the Oregon State community, please complete the form at OregonStater. org/connect or email stater@osualum.com and include the person’s name and class year with a link to the obituary.
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