Paul Andresen, a giant in the NWSABR chapter, serving as president three times, and as secretary/treasurer for the past 10 years or more, lost his battle with cancer on August 26. He was 62.

Paul was a regular attendee from the start of the NWSABR Chapter in 1981. The core group has evolved over the years, but Paul was the only constant--certainly Paul attended more chapter meetings than anyone else by a factor of two. He was a beloved figure.

Paul served on the SABR board for four years as treasurer (1995-99). He wrote articles for both of the Deadball books. He presented at many chapter meetings and at at least one National. He served on the nominating committee for a few years, and a few other national committees as well. He attended 16 SABR nationals. Paul loved SABR.

Paul loved baseball at all levels. He loved the Dodgers from boyhood, the Mariners since their existence (he was in Seattle at the time), the Eugene Emeralds and the Oregon State Beavers. He volunteered in the press box at the OSU game for many years, and one of his happiest moments was his trip to the College World Series in 2007, the second of the Beavers two championships. He and Kip Carlson published a great book a few years ago on the history of the Portland Beavers of the PCL.

Paul loved people,though not in the sense that phrase is normally used. People amused Paul, and he loved watching and talking about them. Though he never gambled, he loved Las Vegas, which was filled with people who amused him. Paul's full life included many close friends from different circles. Besides the SABR convention, his other annual event was the Burning Man Festival in the Nevada desert, for which he and his friends would spent weeks building a booth and costumes around some humorous (and politically-incorrect) theme.

He is survived by his wife, Debbie, three grown sons, and a grandson--a very close family. Debbie, went to several SABR conventions with Paul, and was well known by many. His only sibling, Marc, is a pastor in town and also very close to Paul.