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Dietz, Janet 59 10/5/1950 10/24/2009 Janet Dietz, a systems analyst for PacifiCorp and longtime peace activist, died at the age of 59. She was the oldest child of Marcelle and Lloyd Dietz, an aerospace engineer. A Northwest Portland resident, Janet grew up on Balboa Island in southern California, in a beach house built by her grandmother. She attended Bennington College, and then in the early 1970s went to work for Multnomah County and the state of Oregon in human services. In the mid-1980s, Janet earned a degree in computer programming at Portland Community College. Among her colleagues, Janet is known for her work in promoting international standards for the utility industry. Janet will be remembered by her wide circle of friends for her brilliance and generosity, her elegance, irreverence and deeply caring ways. She loved entertaining, and all the social, decorative and culinary arts that made her home a hub for small gatherings and Christmas extravaganzas. Janet loved to read, and as a member of several book groups, relished doing background research and participating in book-driven conversation. Her enthusiasm and gift for details made her a delight to travel with. She would pack along information about the history of the places she went - the Pacific Northwest, Central Asia, Paris and Mexico. When work took her to conferences in Utah, Florida and Norway, she added in days for exploring nearby natural landscapes. She always wished she had more time to travel. Still on her must-see list, the northern lights. She loved joining friends for trips to the beach and the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Janet's gift for bringing people together intersected with her progressive political ideals. She brought her skills as an organizer, data specialist, writer and editor to organizations that pursued social justice and peace, including the US China Peoples Friendship Association; the Portland-Corinto Sister City Association; Women's International League for Peace and Freedom; Green Empowerment; and PDX Peace. She was a principal organizer for the 2007 march against the war in Iraq. Cancer interrupted Janet's life three times, but never unraveled her strong, straightforward character. As her condition worsened this summer and fall, she kept up a meaningful and pleasurable life - a steady stream of guests, dinners outside, films, the Chinese Garden and books. Janet continued to cheer on and express concern for her friends' children, especially Joe, Annie, Devan, Jade, Michael and Avery. Those who took care of her, friends and family as well as Kaiser Hospice and Visiting Angels, were energized by Janet's kindness and gratitude, but especially by her determination to remain engaged. Janet is survived by her sister, Christine Harris and brother-in-law, Frank; her brother, Douglas and sister-in-law, Nancy, and much loved nephews, Jack and Erik, all of San Francisco; friends and main caregivers, Sarah Morgan and Mark Oldani; many loyal friends and co-workers. There will be a potluck celebration of Janet's life from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, 2009, in the Multnomah Arts Center, 7688 S.W. Capitol Hwy., Portland. A program of remembrances will begin at 4 p.m. |
