To the SMPS Oregon Community,

It is with a heavy heart that I share our long-time member and friend Jeff Morin passed away on November 5, 2021.

Jeff was a member of SMPS Oregon for 19 years. He served on the membership committee and was a longtime supporter of SMPS and the A/E/C industry. Jeff worked at Willamette Print & Blueprint Company, Inc. (WP&B) in Portland for nearly 20 years. WP&B has been a longtime sponsor and supporter of SMPS Oregon. Jeff was an integral member of our chapter and is deeply missed.

Jeff is survived by his wife Patti, his son Racyn, and his daughter Riley.

I asked a few of our members to share memories of Jeff and what he meant to them.

“Jeff always went above and beyond - whether it was helping with a print order or helping with something on the membership committee. He was laid back, a team player and always had a smile on his face. He made everyone feel welcome and was friends with everyone. He used to coach his daughter at softball, he was a family guy and loved his dogs, he loved traveling to Mexico with family and friends and loved going up to Lake Merwin on his boat.”
- Leah Lukrofka, VLMK Engineering + Design | SMPS Oregon Membership Director

“I joined SMPS in 2010 and Jeff was one of the first people to welcome me, not only to SMPS but to the membership committee. We hit it off from the beginning and became fast friends. He was always smiling and laughing, calm and collected no matter how much pressure we were under. He was the heart of not only the membership committee but SMPS in general. He made every event fun and memorable, especially Boards, Bags, and Brews. We would talk about our love of sports and I would text him when any of my teams beat his Niners, or share our love of hating the Seahawks. I can’t imagine this committee without him, it will not be the same. Rest in power Jeff, you are loved and you are missed.”
- Nikki Johnson, AKS Engineering & Forestry, LLC | SMPS Oregon Membership Committee Member

“Jeff was so proud of their kids and their individual interests and successes. His son even worked at WP&B with him for some time. His daughter went to nursing school in Arizona, he was always visiting and giving us updates on her progress. He moved in her in down there, then moved her out and back in (pandemic) without hesitation. They were his top priority, and he was always happy to share their updates with us.

I can’t count the number of times Jeff personally saved me on a short turnaround print order. He would often hand deliver it himself within 24 hours. He was that guy, always willing to help make it happen.

As for SMPS, he was the epitome of ambassador for our chapter. He was one of the first people I connected with in 2013 and as a result joined the membership committee (and haven’t left since). Our committee has always had a special bond, one that has kept this core group together for so long. People sometimes have to take a break or follow through on other commitments, but they are welcomed back with open arms and it’s like no time has passed at all. Jeff was always willing to pitch in where needed, had a way of making sure everyone felt included, and was always a wonderful, welcoming face to see when you walked into an SMPS event.”
- Erin Reed, Murraysmith | SMPS Oregon Membership Committee Member

“I’ve known Jeff for almost 15 years through his involvement in SMPS and his role at Willamette Print and Blueprint. Jeff was a fixture at SMPS events. It seemed appropriate that his smiling face was often the first thing you would see when you went to check in for an event, and he greeted everyone like they were a long-lost friend. It’s also worth noting that Jeff was instrumental to so many of our firms. He was a valued partner at my firm 3J Consulting, it was not uncommon to see him in the office a few times a week. From marketing material to project deliverables to equipment (and everything in between), Jeff contributed to many of our projects. Jeff was also a natural connector. He always seemed to know what was going on in the industry and everyone knew Jeff. This went well beyond his professional life. Earlier this year Jeff’s passion for visiting Mexico rubbed off on me and he connected me and my family with everything we would need for our first trip to Cabo. I used many of Jeff’s connections when we took that trip and it was impressive to see how he had left his mark on a community in a different country. I look back on the past year and am grateful I had the opportunity to get closer to him. Jeff was such a genuinely fun-loving person whose energy was contagious. He will be missed!”
- Kelly Johnson, 3J Consulting | SMPS Oregon Justice, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee Chair

It is hard to imagine a future SMPS gathering without Jeff. While we will miss his presence, it is important that we continue to share his story for years to come. The board is discussing ways in which we can honor Jeff, and I will keep the chapter informed.

Please keep Jeff’s family in your thoughts.

Sincerely,

Kaitlin Virding, CPSM
SMPS Oregon President
Business Development Manager, Stoel Rives LLP