Board of Directors

Governor Barbara Roberts, Honorary Chair, is a fourth-generation descendant of Oregon Trail pioneers, was elected Oregon’s first woman governor, in 1991. A longtime resident of east Portland, she had served on the Multnomah County Commission and would later serve as a Metro Councilor. Roberts has a respected record in advocacy for issues involving mental illness, women’s leadership, and hospice. Her grandchildren are of Chinese descent.

Helen Ying, President, is a lifelong Portlander and retired educator with more than thirty years of experience in Oregon public schools as a math teacher, counselor, vice principal, and hearings officer. She served eight years as a board director for the Multnomah Education Service District, bringing governance and public-policy expertise to her community leadership. She currently serves as board president of the Lan Su Chinese Garden and trustee of the Portland State University Foundation, and holds leadership roles with the Chinese American Citizens Alliance. Known for combining analytical rigor with human-centered insight, Helen is deeply committed to equity, civic engagement, and inclusive cultural communities. She approaches challenges with integrity, perseverance, and collaboration—balancing head and heart. A strategic thinker and passionate advocate, Helen works to create positive, lasting impact and build sustainable communities.

Mary Faulkner, Secretary, is a founding board member and past president, and currently serves as community outreach chair of the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation. Her involvement with Lone Fir began in 2004, when she joined the board of Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery, eventually serving as chair. In 2008, with Kate Sokoloff, she co-managed the “(D)early Departed” music CD project; the CD included original songs from local artists, and proceeds from its sale went to support development of the memorial garden at Lone Fir’s Block 14. Mary is executive vice president of branding and communications for Ferguson Wellman Capital Management, an investment firm serving individuals and nonprofits. Mary has served on numerous nonprofit boards with a history focus, including Oregon Historical Society, Arlington Club, River View Cemetery Foundation, Portland State Friends of History, and High Desert Museum.

David Dahl, Treasurer, joined the foundation’s board in 2018, bringing more than three decades of experience in the deathcare industry. As managing director of Milne Construction Co., he led the design and construction of the Chestnut Grove niche columbarium garden at Lone Fir Cemetery in 2013—an enduring contribution to one of Oregon’s most historic burial grounds. In addition to his work with the foundation, David serves on the board of the Portland Chinatown History Foundation and Museum, supporting the preservation and celebration of Portland’s cultural heritage.

Rachel Essig managed Lone Fir Cemetery from 2008 to 2013. She helped champion Metro’s decision to fund the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation’s formation, and became an ex-officio member of the foundation board when it was established, later serving on the board from 2020 to 2022 and again beginning in 2024. With thirteen years in public parks and experience managing sixteen cemeteries, Rachel has held key leadership roles in the Green Burial Council (treasurer, 2021–present) and the Cemetery Association of Oregon (2011–2022), including president, past president, secretary, and legislative chair. She has also served as board secretary for the Friends of Lone Fir Cemetery. At Lone Fir, Rachel partnered with community groups and Portland Parks to bring art installations, documentary screenings about Block 14, and free Shakespeare performances to the cemetery. She also worked closely with the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office on Lone Fir’s listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Rachel values cemetery work for its blend of service, tranquility, and community, and is committed to providing inclusive spaces for reflection for people of all backgrounds.

Karin Hansen is a lifelong Portlander with a broad range of experiences and skills to share with the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation. Her most recent endeavors include advocacy and organizing of our various communities in Portland. This stems from her time as Portland’s First Lady, when her husband, Tom Potter, served as mayor. She continues to be involved with the Portland Mutare (Zimbabwe) Sister City Association, and the Portland Sister City Coalition. During the time of her husband’s term, she focused her work on the first bill of rights for children and youth created by and written by young people. Thousands of Portland youth created “Our Bill of Rights: Children + Youth” to advise adults and address the all-important question to we adults: “What are those things that you, as children and youth, need from us to reach your full potential?” Before her time as a full-time volunteer in the Mayor’s Office, she was a high school teacher in the Portland Public Schools, teaching job-readiness skills and learning from her wise and wonderful teenage students— unknowingly in preparation for her work as First Lady. She continues to be very connected with the diverse communities of this incredible city of potential called Portland, Oregon. More than anything, she sees her greatest skill as a connector of people and holds the belief that we, with all the different gifts we each bring, are better when we work together and in support of one another.

John Laursen is a founding member and former president of the LFCF board. A writer, editor, and designer, he has for more than five decades owned and operated Press-22, a Portland studio specializing in the design and production of high-quality books and text-based public art projects. His work in public art includes the creation of commemorative installations for the Oregon Cultural Heritage Commission and serving on the design team for the Oregon Holocaust Memorial in Washington Park. John is the co-author of Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867-1957, and the executive director of the Northwest Photography Archive; he also serves as vice president of the board of the Oregon Jewish Museum and Center for Holocaust Education. In 2011 he received the Stewart H. Holbrook Literary Legacy Award from Literary Arts, and in 2020 he received the Governor’s Art Award. His parents and two of his closest friends are buried at Lone Fir.

Marcus Lee, a founding member and former secretary, brings decades of community involvement and historical stewardship to his role. He serves on the board of the Oregon Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association (CCBA) and is a member of its History and Museum Committee. He also serves on the boards of the Portland Lee Family Association and the Portland Chinatown History Foundation and Museum, where he is a founding board member. In addition, he is a long‑term member of the Genealogical Forum of Oregon, focusing on researching his Chinese family history.

Rebecca Liu was the founding president of the Lone Fir Cemetery Foundation board. In 1986 with her husband, Chi Liu, she helped to raise funds for and awareness of the Portland China Gate at Northwest 4th Avenue and Burnside. The couple established the Portland–Koahsung Sister City relationship, and in 1988 brought in dragon boat racing from Taiwan Republic of China. She was a member of Soroptimist International Club of Portland for a quarter of a century, serving as president and treasurer. She was with the OCCBA from 1984 until 2020, serving on its board of directors for ten years and as the principal of the OCCBA Chinese language school for fourteen years. Rebecca owned and operated Lung Fung restaurant in North Portland for three decades.