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DECEASED: Tom Owen, President Welsh Society of Portland
We were stunned this afternoon to receive an email from John Evans, the Secretary of the Welsh Society of Portland, informing us that Tom Owen, WSOP President, had passed away, a victim of smoke inhalation from a house fire, in his bed in the early morning hours of Thursday, 16 February.
Tom was a wonderful, friendly, cheerful and happy man who liked Penderyn and beer, loved Wales, was very proud of his Welsh heritage and had dedicated himself to the Welsh Society and to making people in Portland more aware of their Welsh heritage and what it meant. Tom had many friends and people who loved him and he will be sorely missed.
Tom Owen at the WSOP Christmas brunch, 2009
Tom Owen with Diana Dream at the 2010 North American Festival of Wales, Portland OR
Had not heard--how awful. He will be missed.
We at GSOC (the Geological Society of the Oregon Country) are also sad.
And I will miss him at science fairs where he often single-handedly judged and awarded statistics prizes to kids who deserved them.
In memory of Tom, check your smoke detectors.
If they are more than a few years old, they are probably not as sensitive as modern detectors.
Wow, Gwellian, that just underscores how sudden and unexpected this was. We just saw him at the last WSOP meeting, his usual, cheerful self and Janet had the painting there you'd done for Betti Pierce and her sister. Really very sad.
Sad news indeed.I'm quite shocked! I spoke to Tom only a couple of days ago, he'd purchased one of my paintings as a gift for a friend and it's still here! So so sorry to hear. Such an interesting man and I pass on my condolences to his family and I'll pass on the news to my father.
Only just heard the news. Deeply shocked. Tom was a good friend and will be sorely missed by everyone in the local Welsh Society.