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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Concurrent Resolution 16
Sponsored by Senator SOLLMAN
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure as introduced.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: Honors the life and memory of Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Jr. (Flesch Readability
Score:64.9).
In memoriam: Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Jr., 1942-2024.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
Whereas Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Jr. was born on December 10, 1942, in Pendleton,
Oregon, to Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Sr. and Edna A. (MacKenzie) Helzerman; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman was raised in Tecumseh, Michigan, and he graduated from Tecumseh
High School in 1960; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman received his undergraduate and M.D. degrees from the University
of Michigan; and
Whereas during the Vietnam War, Ralph Helzerman served his country with honor and dis-
tinction as a medical officer in the United States Air Force (USAF); and
Whereas following his honorable discharge from the USAF, Ralph Helzerman began a residency
in ophthalmology at Oregon Health and Science University’s Casey Eye Institute, which he com-
pleted in 1973; and
Whereas on June 6, 1964, Ralph Helzerman married the love of his life, Marilynn Pratt, and they
shared 60 happy years of marriage and raised four daughters together; and
Whereas after many moves around the country for his medical training and military service,
Ralph Helzerman and his young family settled in Hillsboro, Oregon, where he began to practice
ophthalmology with Dr. Lee Peterson, and together they formed the Hillsboro Eye Clinic, where
Ralph practiced for 37 years until his retirement in 2010; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman was a lifelong learner with an insatiable thirst for knowledge, and
his life was full of hobbies and passions he enjoyed sharing with family and friends, including (to
name just a few!) archery, singing, hunting and fishing, investing, birding, travel, golf, reading,
Hillsboro Hops baseball and University of Michigan athletics; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman sang with the Oregon Chorale for more than 30 years and also served
on its board of directors; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman was a kind and gentle man who touched the lives of countless others
with his spirit and generosity; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman was a firm believer in giving back to the Hillsboro community that
supported him in his years of practicing medicine, and he and Marilynn were selfless volunteers and
generous donors, making an immeasurable impact on their community; and
Whereas among the many organizations Ralph and Marilynn Helzerman supported were local
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 3883 SCR16
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arts organizations and theatre groups, the Hillsboro Public Library, the Hillsboro Schools Founda-
tion, the Hillsboro Hops, the Hillsboro Medical Center Foundation and the Hillsboro Community
Foundation, where Ralph served on the board of directors; and
Whereas Ralph and Marilynn Helzerman were instrumental in helping to fund the Walters Cul-
tural Arts Center, Jackson Bottom Wetlands Preserve, Noble Woods Park and the all-inclusive
playground at Hidden Creek Park West; and
Whereas Ralph and Marilynn Helzerman were honored by the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce
with the Philanthropic Leadership Award in 2016; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman passed away on October 5, 2024; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman was survived by his beloved wife, Marilynn; their daughters, Kristin,
Laura, Megan and Holly, and their spouses; nine grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews; and
Whereas Ralph Helzerman will forever be remembered for the profound and lasting impact he
had on his patients, his community and the people of the State of Oregon; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Oregon:
That we, the members of the Eighty-third Legislative Assembly, honor and celebrate the re-
markable life and achievements of Dr. Ralph Franklin Helzerman Jr., and we express our sincere
and abiding gratitude for his service to the people of this state; and be it further
Resolved, That a copy of this resolution shall be presented to the family of Dr. Helzerman as
an expression of our sympathy and condolences.
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