“Mr. East Portland”, Bruce McCain, passes away

His memorial service will be Saturday, May 22; read this story for the details …

Before presiding as a “candidate forum” moderator at a 2012 Gateway Area Business Association meeting, then president Fred Sanchez honors Bruce McCain by presenting him the coveted GABA Rubber Chicken Award.

Story and photos by David F. Ashton

To many in outer East Portland, Bruce McCain was the moderator at Gateway Area Business Association (GABA) “candidate forums”.

McCain passed away May 18 of brain cancer; he was 60 years old.

After retiring as a Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Captain, McCain opened a private law practice, with offices at 111^th Square in the Gateway District.

While in private practice, McCain served as a legal analyst for both local and national media services, including East Portland News.

Whenever speaking within earshot of candidates or elected officials, Bruce McCain never hesitated to frankly present the mid-County point of view on issues.

“I’m so saddened,” said former GABA President Fred Sanchez of Realty Brokers. “We used to go out to lunch together, at least once a month.

“Bruce was a good man who had tremendous energy and expressed this in his desire to help people,” Sanchez told East Portland News. “He could bring in all sides on a measure, and treated candidates fairly. At the same time, he always represented East County’s point of view.”

During past four years, he was a member of the Reynolds School District Board, and was elected as its Chair this year.

Bruce McCain, in this file photo, tells why he supported funding for education in the district he served.

Representatives of the Reynolds School District offered this statement:

Bruce was active in high schools sports, serving as an official and photographer. Even when he learned that he had cancer, he thought about our students.

His three most immediate goals, as he stated on several different occasions, were to be re-elected to the School Board, to see the 2015 Bond pass, and to stand on stage at graduation in June and hand out diplomas. Bruce accomplished the first two things; and in spirit he will be at Graduation in June.

Bruce is survived by his wife of 35 years, Kathy, and their three daughters Kelly Martin, Rachel Heller, and Stephanie Tyler, and their families.

A public memorial service will be held for McCain at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 30 at the Reynolds High School Arts and Communications Building. Reception will follow in the Multipurpose Room. The RHS Arts and Communications Building is located at: 1698 SW Cherry Park Road in Troutdale.

Comments are closed.