Memorial service Weds. Feb. 12 from 4-7 p.m. at the Madrona Room at the Orcas Center

— by Margie Doyle , updated Jan. 31 at 3 p.m. —

Bob and Phyllis Henigson, Sept. 2013

Bob and Phyllis Henigson, Sept. 2013

Robert Henigson, Deer Harbor philanthropist, strong civic supporter and lover of the arts, has passed away at Island Hospital in Anacortes, in the presence of his wife Phyllis and sons. Bob Henigson was 89.

His heart and intellect were great, and he used them to benefit a vast array of causes and endeavors. He never stopped planning ways to make life better for those who follow him.

On Jan. 29, the following letter was addressed to the Orcas community regarding memorial services and remembrances:

Dear family and friends,

I am sorry to have to tell you that Bob passed away early yesterday morning after being hospitalized for injuries he suffered from a bad fall on Friday. He did so peacefully, in his sleep, with myself, Ted, and Jeff beside him. Over the last several days, we all had the opportunity to read poems and prayers to him, share memories, and tell him how much we love him.

We will have a funeral service in Los Angeles at Mount Sinai Hollywood Hills, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068 (https://www.mountsinaiparks.org/about/mount-sinai-parks/directions-3/) on February 9. It will begin promptly at 11:30AM and be immediately followed by a reception which we’ll have at Granite Park Place, 920 Granite Drive, Pasadena, CA 91101, concluding at 5PM.

We’ve also finalized the date and time for the Orcas Island potluck community celebration and that is the 12th of February from 4-7PM at the Madrona Room at the Orcas Center.

Again we’d love to see you at either or both events..

You are welcome to attend either or both of these events but please feel no pressure to do so. Your feelings for him are well known, and we are grateful for your presence in his life. Memorial gifts in lieu of flowers would be appreciated in the areas of Education or the Environment, both of which Bob held very dear to his heart. One very special organization for him in particular was the Orcas Island Community Foundation (https://oicf.us).

With love,Phyllis, Ted, & Jeff [Henigson]

Hilary Canty, Director of the Orcas Island Community Foundation, said today [Jan. 29], “Few people have had such a broad and deep influence on our community. From full day kindergarten to Library Park, new seats for the Grange, and concert sponsorships for OICMF, it is hard to think of a program or project that Bob and Phyllis did not contribute to.

“I will be placing a bouquet from OICF at the base of the Bill of Rights in Library Park. Seems a fitting honor for Bob.”

Library Park was donated to the county by the Henigsons in 1997, “to preserve some open, green space in the village and augment access to the library grounds at the same time.” They also protected the property with a conservation easement with the San Juan Preservation Trust and established a fund to maintain and care for the park.

“Obviously, I feel strongly about preservation,” Henigson said. “I think that each of us, individually, needs to make a more determined effort to prevent the environmental degradation which invariably accompanies rampant development. And we don’t have to rely on government to downzone everything; we can do it ourselves.”

Two years later, they protected 18 acres of open fields adjoining their home on Deer Harbor Road with a conservation easement donated to the Preservation Trust.

From their Deer Harbor Home, Bob worked with the Deer Harbor Master Plan and the Deer Harbor Planning Review Committee/ He has served on the Board of Orcas Public Library Trustees. The Henigsons contributed generously to Farm to Cafeteria, SeaDoc Society, and Orcas Island Chamber Music Festival, among other island organizations.

In recognition of their long history of active participation and support, Bob and Phyllis Henigson were named “Lifetime Members” of OPAL Community Land Trust in 2012, along with Michael Brennan and Bob Gamble and. They were similarly honored by the Community Foundation in 2007.

Doug Bechtel, one of the founders and Past Presidents of the Community Foundation, said of Henigson’s service to that organization, “Bob’s wisdom and insight into complex issues helped guide the Community Foundation. Bob always challenged me to look at an issue from a new directions. He didn’t give solutions, but rather things to think about. I always left a meeting with Bob feeling so excited and ready to tackle the challenge before me.”

The Henigson’s contributions to education have been especially noteworthy.

In 2007, Bob Henigson challenged the community to provide long-term reliable funding for the Orcas Island School District (OISD). He worked with the Orcas Island Education Foundation, establishing the Education Initiative, with OICF to be the Initiative’s fund supervisor. “There is no reason why we can’t be the best,” Henigson had said when he issued his challenge to the community. The Henigsons funded all-day kindergarten with Orcas Elementary, from 2008 to 2010.

Last Spring, the Funhouse Commons announced the creation of the Henigson Public School Student Fund College Scholarship Program, an annual scholarship of up to $16,000 to one graduate of Orcas Island High School. The program was created in partnership with the Henigson Public School Student Fund, or HPSSF, which through the Funhouse Commons has been providing online classes, SAT Test Prep and College Counseling to Orcas High School for several years.

In the words of Bob Henigson, the scholarship student selected will “demonstrate real motivation to receive a higher degree.”

Seattle’s Intiman Theater, Swedish Medical Center, the Sierra Club, YMCA, Alaska Conservation Foundation, the Yiddish Book Center and the Constitutional Rights Foundation, have all been recipients of Henigson’s philanthropy.

Bob earned Bachelor and Master Degrees in Science from California Institute of Technology (Caltech) and a law degree from Harvard University. He served as the Caltech Associates Board President Emeritus.

Institutes of higher learning have also benefited from Henigson’s generosity.

At the University of Washington, the Robert and Phyllis Henigson Endowed Professorship in Hematology was established in 2010 “to enhance the University’s ability to recruit and retain distinguished faculty in the Division of Hematology.

“This endowment was created in grateful recognition of the extraordinary medical skills of Michael L. Linenberger, M.D., FACP, professor of medicine in the Division of Hematology, whose kind and caring treatment is “the essence of good medical practice.”

The Henigson Human Rights Fellowship was established at Harvard Law School for students “with a demonstrated commitment to international human rights and an interest in working in the field,… whether those careers are in academic life, in governmental or intergovernmental organizations, as activists, or as legal practitioners.”

Henigson was an Investor and retired attorney, having been a partner of Lawler, Felix & Hall, a predecessor to Arter & Hadden LLP, Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co.’s counsel, prior to his retirement in 1986. He has been a Director of Scope Industries since October 1996, and previously served the same position from May 1969 to August 1987. He served as an Independent Director of Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. from 1964 to April 30, 2005 and is a member of Audit , Compensation and Stock Option Committees. He has been Chairman of the Board at Myricom, Inc. since September 8, 2010.

Perhaps Howard Wright said it best today, “Bob Henigson — a man of slight stature, big heart, and a huge brain! It’s a sad day for the Island and the World.”

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