When Legacy announced the closure of Hopewell House, the community
immediately responded with the formation of Friends of Hopewell House (FHH),
a newly recognized 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization.
We are a diverse group that includes accomplished hospice pioneers,
business professionals, former staff members (doctors, nurses, chaplains) and
volunteers, community leaders, development professionals, journalists, and
family members who have experienced the death of a loved one at the house.
Our working group of 20 committed volunteers has met every Saturday morning
since October 2019. With over 10,000 deaths at Hopewell House – nearly one death
per day for 33 years – and each death touching many other people, much of
Portland has a direct connection or second-degree story about the House,
extending our reach into a vast and passionate community.
Friends of Hopewell House is led by a long-time hospice advocate, Joan Strong Buell.
A pioneer in end-of-life care, Joan was instrumental in bringing the British model of inpatient hospice care to the U.S. She also helped craft Oregon’s state policies around hospice care. “I had worked in an inpatient hospice facility in England and learned not everyone can be home or wants to be home,” she says. “I was interested in the problems and solutions for people dying.”
A retired teacher of human development, musician, botanist, reader, Joan is a happy member of a family ranging from 1-93 years in age.
Legacy’s decision to close Hopewell House inspired Joan to rededicate herself, leading the way for this special resource she founded to continue serving those in need. Joan, currently 87 years of age, is the spirited President of our non-profit, Friends of Hopewell House.
Vice President
Former President and CEO of Pact, Inc. a global non-profit development organization. Former Director of the Office of Neighborhood Associations. Organizational development consultant.
Treasurer
30 year global finance executive at Kimberly-Clark. MBA Tuck School of Business and CPA. Longtime Hopewell House volunteer
Secretary
Business systems analyst with decades of experience in financial operations and information technologies. Hospice care advocate for over 30 years.
FHH Executive Director
Brand Executive. Architect of Global Nike-Livestrong Movement, Hopewell House volunteer. MDiv Candidate, Maitripa College.
Former Hospice Director at Housecall Providers, Hospice Medical Director at Bronx Hospice Visiting Nurse Service of New York, and Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, OHSU
Senior Intellectual Property Paralegal at Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt. Previous board member, treasurer, finance chair, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago.
Longtime Hopewell House volunteer. Global women’s health advocate.
Graduate Johns Hopkins School of Nursing. Longtime hospice nurse, educator and volunteer.
Stefan’s wife Julie died at Hopewell House in September 2019. Business owner, artist, consultant, and Neuro-Linguistic Master Practitioner
Odell Professor of Humanities at Lewis and Clark College until retiring in 2015. He has edited six posthumous editions of the late Ralph's Ellison's work. He is also Literary Executor for the estate of Ralph Ellison, author of Invisible Man, and a trustee of the Ellison Trust.
Former Development Director for Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon. Former journalist and freelance writer. Longtime hospice advocate and advisory board member.
Hospice volunteer for 24 years. Former paralegal, teacher and education union officer.
Dr. Keesha Ewers, PhD, ARNP is board certified in Ayurvedic and Functional medicine, psychotherapist, Advanced Registered Nurse Practitioner in integrative medicine, a certified Conscious Dying Doula, an initiated Huachumera, and the founder and medical director of the Academy for Integrative Medicine.
Living Well in The Presence of Death