Eric Parsons BA ’70
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Eric Parsons BA ’70, trustee of the college from 2009 to 2015, died January 9, 2019.
Parsons grew up in Klamath Falls, Oregon, where his father ran a feed store and taught him the value of treating customers with kindness. The owner of his dad’s company wanted to share his own success with his employees, so he established a scholarship fund for their children. Parsons took that generosity to heart, later saying, “Without his help, I never would have obtained the valuable liberal arts foundation that Lewis & Clark provided.” In 2011, Parsons and his wife, Janet Montag Parsons BS ’73, established the Eric and Janet Parsons Endowed Scholarship at Lewis & Clark College.
He served as chairman, president, and chief executive officer of Standard Insurance Company (The Standard) from 2004 to 2009, capping a career there of more than 40 years. Leading The Standard during a period of steady growth, he also cemented its reputation for community involvement.
A longtime and widely respected business and civic leader, he served tirelessly on the boards of various nonprofits, including the Oregon Community Foundation, the Oregon Health & Science University Foundation, the Portland Art Museum, and the Portland Development Commission.
He is survived by his wife, three of their children, and four grandchildren.
