Gary Martin Curtis, 71, passed away in the
company of his wife Barbara at his Sandy area
home on the morning of November
30th, 2016, following a long illness.
Born in Santa Rosa, California on January 30th,
1945, Gary was the eldest of three brothers who, as
children of a military serviceman, experienced a varied
upbringing including a lengthy and formative stint
in the Philippines. Back home, Gary attended Santa
Rosa Junior College before enlisting in the U.S. Navy
as an electronic technician in the Submarine Service.
In 1967, while stationed in Key West, Florida, Gary
met and immediately fell in love with 22-year-old
schoolteacher Barbara Blackman. They married less
than three months later, and celebrated their 48th
anniversary earlier this year. Their son Paul was born
in 1973.
After completing his service, Gary earned bachelor’s
and master’s degree’s in Industrial Arts at the
University of Idaho, and in 1976, he accepted a position
at Sandy Union High School teaching vocational
subjects such as electronics and drafting, and coaching
girls’ volleyball. He pioneered computer instruction
at Sandy High during the early PC era, and initiated
the girls’ softball program, which he also coached
for many years thereafter. He will be long remembered
by students and co-workers for his unpretentious
demeanor in and out of the classroom, always
accompanied by a steady stream of enthusiasm,
encouragement, and wit.
Gary was an avid outdoorsman with a particular
passion for fishing. He found his greatest contentment
in the company of friends and family, floating a raft
or piloting a motorboat, with a fishing rod close at
hand and a ribald tale on his lips. His zest for life was
contagious, and he will live on in the hearts of all
those who shared in that life.
Gary is survived by his wife Barbara; his son, Paul
Curtis; his brothers, Banky and his wife Linda Curtis,
Martin and wife Kathy Curtis, Lynn and wife
Linda Nichols; his sisters, Linda and husband Robert
Leoptky and Pam Ferguson and husband Ron.
A memorial service will be held at Sandy Funeral
Home on Wednesday, December 7, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
Those wishing to make a contribution in his memory
are encouraged to donate to the Sandy High
School Girls’ Softball Fund – P.O. Box 547 Sandy,
Oregon 97055 – Attn: Terri