Richard Helzer
Richard "Dick" Henry Helzer was born on February 8, 1940, in Portland. He is the son of Frank Helzer (1912-1985) and Eleanor Ratchford (1917-1968). Frank Helzer's parents were Heinrich Peter Hölzer (1886-1973) and Catharina Elisabeth Burbach (1883-1928), who were born in Norka, Russia.
Dick attended Kennedy Grade School, Grant High School, and Portland State University. He married Sharon Weisser on March 25, 1961, in Portland.
Dick began teaching at Hillsboro High School in 1966. In 1969, he joined his brother, Bill Helzer, in the family business, Alberta Sanitary Service.
Dick's love of art brought him back to Portland State, where he obtained his master's degree in 1971. He began a 37-year teaching career at Portland Community College and received the Gordon Galbraith Award as Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
Richard enjoyed an active and accomplished career as an artist - his public works remain at Far West Savings and Portland Community College, with multiple installations at Rock Creek and Sylvania, Parkrose Community Church, and the University of Portland. His art is displayed in private collections throughout the Northwest, as well as California, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., New York, and London, England. His gallery affiliations over the years have included the Long Gallery, Gallery West, Der Morgenstern Galleries, Sunbird Gallery, Graystone Gallery, and the Attic Gallery.
Dick Helzer passed away on June 30, 2006, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Dick attended Kennedy Grade School, Grant High School, and Portland State University. He married Sharon Weisser on March 25, 1961, in Portland.
Dick began teaching at Hillsboro High School in 1966. In 1969, he joined his brother, Bill Helzer, in the family business, Alberta Sanitary Service.
Dick's love of art brought him back to Portland State, where he obtained his master's degree in 1971. He began a 37-year teaching career at Portland Community College and received the Gordon Galbraith Award as Outstanding Teacher of the Year.
Richard enjoyed an active and accomplished career as an artist - his public works remain at Far West Savings and Portland Community College, with multiple installations at Rock Creek and Sylvania, Parkrose Community Church, and the University of Portland. His art is displayed in private collections throughout the Northwest, as well as California, Texas, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., New York, and London, England. His gallery affiliations over the years have included the Long Gallery, Gallery West, Der Morgenstern Galleries, Sunbird Gallery, Graystone Gallery, and the Attic Gallery.
Dick Helzer passed away on June 30, 2006, in Beaverton, Oregon.
Cover of the University of Portland Magazine showing Dick Helzer at work on his carving of the crucifix for the University of Portland’s Chapel of Christ the Teacher.
Biographical information about Dick's significant artistic achievements was obtained from the Portland Community College website (edited for accuracy and clarity):
"Richard Helzer (1940-2006) received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Portland State University in 1966 and 1971 respectively. At PSU, he studied with and served as a studio assistant to Frederic Littman, a Hungarian-born sculptor who was a colleague in Paris of Aristide Maillol and profoundly influenced Helzer’s work. For over 37 years, Helzer taught design, drawing, jewelry, sculpture, and art history, mainly for PCC Rock Creek, where he served as gallery director from 1989-2001 and department chair from 2000-2003. He also served on the board of the Beaverton Arts Commission and was often a juror for annual shows. Aside from his works in the Rock Creek Art Collection, Helzer’s work can be found in the public collections of Far West Savings and the University of Portland in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Helzer exhibited in group shows at The Portland Art Museum, the Coos Bay Art Museum, the Bush Barn Gallery, and the Attic Gallery, where he had four solo shows. His work is in private collections throughout the United States and in England. The founder of the art department of Rock Creek Campus, Helzer left an impressive legacy in the teaching of his students (many of whom went on to become artists or educators), the gift of many of his works to the college art collection, and the single largest individual gift to the PCC Foundation to create the Richard Helzer Scholarship in Art and the Sharon Helzer Scholarship in Nursing. Helzer’s wit as a raconteur and storyteller is affectionately remembered by his students and colleagues. The department he founded continues today to honor the spirit of generosity and invention he embodied. The Helzer Gallery at Rock Creek is named after him."
"Richard Helzer (1940-2006) received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Portland State University in 1966 and 1971 respectively. At PSU, he studied with and served as a studio assistant to Frederic Littman, a Hungarian-born sculptor who was a colleague in Paris of Aristide Maillol and profoundly influenced Helzer’s work. For over 37 years, Helzer taught design, drawing, jewelry, sculpture, and art history, mainly for PCC Rock Creek, where he served as gallery director from 1989-2001 and department chair from 2000-2003. He also served on the board of the Beaverton Arts Commission and was often a juror for annual shows. Aside from his works in the Rock Creek Art Collection, Helzer’s work can be found in the public collections of Far West Savings and the University of Portland in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher. Helzer exhibited in group shows at The Portland Art Museum, the Coos Bay Art Museum, the Bush Barn Gallery, and the Attic Gallery, where he had four solo shows. His work is in private collections throughout the United States and in England. The founder of the art department of Rock Creek Campus, Helzer left an impressive legacy in the teaching of his students (many of whom went on to become artists or educators), the gift of many of his works to the college art collection, and the single largest individual gift to the PCC Foundation to create the Richard Helzer Scholarship in Art and the Sharon Helzer Scholarship in Nursing. Helzer’s wit as a raconteur and storyteller is affectionately remembered by his students and colleagues. The department he founded continues today to honor the spirit of generosity and invention he embodied. The Helzer Gallery at Rock Creek is named after him."
Sources
Pete Helzer
Portland Community College website. Accessed 24 Dec 2023.
Richard Helzer Obituary (OregonLive 2006)
Portland Community College website. Accessed 24 Dec 2023.
Richard Helzer Obituary (OregonLive 2006)
Last updated December 24, 2023