John Culver

Culver, John 9/14/1953 - 9/11/2020 Portland, Oregon Retired Portland attorney, John Bowen Culver, passed away on September 11, 2020, as the result of a catastrophic heart event. Doctors report that it occurred so suddenly he likely did not suffer. In honor of John, who was seldom on time to anything in his 66 years of life, his obituary has been posted 6 months posthumously, in true "Culver-time" fashion. John was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on September 14, 1953, to William H. Culver, Jr. and Jane E. Culver (nee Bowen). He spent his youth in Kalamazoo and South Haven, Michigan, and graduated from Hackett High School and the University of Michigan (Go Blue!). Upon graduation from college, John relocated to Portland, Oregon, to attend Lewis and Clark Law School. It was there he earned his law degree in 1980 and made many life-long friends. After graduation, he worked as law clerk for the late Hon. James R. Ellis in Multnomah Co. Circuit Court. He began practicing law as a criminal defense attorney at the Urban Indian Council (UIC), which later became Multnomah Defenders, Inc. (MDI). In 1990, John left MDI and began practicing at Metropolitan Public Defenders (MPD). John was dedicated to preserving the rights of the indigent accused; he showed patience and compassion toward even the most difficult clients, and worked tirelessly to defend them until retiring from practice in January, 2019. Upon his death, the Multnomah County District Attorney's office issued a rare public statement in praise of an opposing counsel (https://www.mcda.us/index.php/news/statement-regarding-the-death-of-attorney-john-culver/). In addition to his easy-going manner, deep love of friends and family, and remarkable sense of humor, John will be remembered for his role at the Oregon Country Fair, his many (*many*) collections, and his profound love of music. John had a tremendous impact on the lives he touched and we were all fortunate to have known him. John is survived by his wife, Cathryn Ruckle, daughter, Claire Kathryn Culver (Maureen O'Connor, m. 1983-1996), son, Bowen Ruckle Culver, sisters, Jill Culver Jameson, Lois Plantefaber, and Mary Hamlin, brothers, Casey Culver and Joshua Culver, as well as sisters-in-law Helvi Sandvik, Liz Culver, and Patty Maher, brothers-in-law Gil Jameson, Terry Hamlin, and Arthur Ruckle, and his extended family, Susan Springgate, Stephen Springgate, Nancy Springgate Kushner, and Scott Springgate. John was also blessed with many beloved nieces and nephews. He enriched all of their lives. John was preceded in death by his parents, his second mother, Rita Culver, his brothers, Casey Plantefaber, Kelly Culver, and David Springgate, and his niece, Kimberly Cuthbert McGinley. The family requests that remembrances be made to The Jeremy Wilson Foundation, which provides emergency assistance to local musicians facing health care and other financial crises (https://www.thejwf.org/).