Houck, Becky Abildskov 

58 12/18/1950 09/18/2009 Dr. Becky Abildskov Houck was born Dec. 
18, 1950, in New Orleans, and died of pancreatic cancer Sept. 18, 
2009, in Portland, at age 58. Becky grew up in East Syracuse, 
N.Y., graduating from East Syracuse-Minoa High School in 1968. 
She earned her Bachelor of Science in biology from the University 
of Utah in 1972, and her doctorate in zoology from the University 
of Hawaii in 1977. She taught marine biology, embryology, and 
animal behavior at the University of Portland for more than 31 
years. For most of those years, she also served as an advisor and 
taught biology to incoming freshmen, a position she claimed was 
"the most difficult and most rewarding job" of her academic 
career. Her research focused on animal behavior, including 
behavior of octopuses and fruit bats. She won the Oregon 
Professor of the Year and the National Outstanding Freshman 
Advocate award in addition to the University's awards for 
teaching, advising and the Culligan Medal, its highest award. 
Becky is survived by her husband, James Houck; son, Clayton 
Houck; parents, Dr. J.A. and Mary Helen McKell Abildskov; 
sisters, Mary Karen Abildskov and Marilyn Abildskov; and brother, 
Alan Abildskov. Contributions may be made to the Becky Houck 
Endowed Scholarship at University of Portland, 5000 N. Willamette 
Blvd., Portland, OR 97203. A memorial will be held at 3 p.m. 
Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, in the Chapel of Christ the Teacher on 
the University of Portland campus.

Published in The Oregonian on September 23, 2009