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WILLIAM (BILL) DYGERT
September 14, 1950 ˜ August 27, 2022
William (Bill) Dygert died on Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022 at his home in Astoria, OR, from an ongoing lung disorder. Bill was born Sept. 14, 1950 in Detroit, MI, to Dr. H. Paul and Helen N. Dygert. He was second of their three sons.
In the summer of 1955, Dr. Dygert set off for Vancouver, WA, where he had taken a position with the local Veteran’s Administration Hospital. Mrs. Dygert, who had only had her driver’s license for three weeks, took the boys and joined him there. Bill grew up in Vancouver and graduated from Hudson’s Bay High School in 1968. He attended Allegheny College in Meadville, PA, and graduated with a degree in History in 1972. He earned a Master’s Degree in Journalism from the University of Oregon in 1979.
Bill started a job with the Clark County Parks Department in 1973 where he worked as an employee and later as an independent contractor. He negotiated with various private landowners and secured the funding which allowed the conversion of their private holdings to public uses. He was an expert grant writer and his applications, written for the benefit of municipal entities and non-profits throughout SW Washington, secured many millions of dollars over the years. He worked on projects for Lewisville Park, Frenchman’s Bar, Salmon Creek, and the Vancouver Lake lowlands....just to name a few. He and his business partner George Simpson devised the Clark County Conservation Futures program and the acquisition of more than 5000 acres of the most important park, open space, and habitat lands in Clark County. Later in life he provided support for development of the Astoria Riverwalk and was a long-term chair of the Lower Columbia River Fish Recovery Board. He was also a founder and longtime board member of the Columbia Land Trust which has conserved more than 50,000 acres of land in Oregon and Washington. As you are enjoying the great outdoors, take a moment to acknowledge this great man. He also greatly enjoyed fishing for bass in the Gorge with his brother Hal.
Bill is survived by his wife, Linda; his stepson, Mick; and his brothers, Peter and Hal Dygert and their families....not to mention his lab Prince Harry. Donations in memory of Bill can be made to the Columbia Land Trust, 850 Officers’ Row, Vancouver, WA, 98661, and Clatsop Animal Assistance, PO Box 622, Warrenton, OR, 97146.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Please share a memory @ www.columbian.com/obits
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
4 Entries
Linda,
I sure enjoyed our many conversations with Bill over the years. He was a great asset to our community and in particular the Northwest Neighborhood Assoc.
God bless you and family.
Bill Cone
Bill Cone
Friend
September 20, 2022
Dear Linda, I was so sad to hear of Bill's passing. He was a tremendous gift to Clark County. I appreciated his commitment to the community. You are in my prayers, and I am thankful for our time working together and your service to the county as well.
Pam Brokaw
September 15, 2022
Linda, I was sadden to read of Bill's passing. I had the please of working with Bill several years during my time with Parks and Recreation Advisory Board and at ESD112, Partnerships in Education. He left a wonderful legacy of Parks and Trails and Conservation futures for our community.
Phyllis (Goldhammer) Robertson
Phyllis Goldhanmer -Robertson
September 14, 2022
So sorry for your loss Linda. You both have been assets to Clark County.
Mary Strehlow
Work
September 12, 2022
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