Edna Margaret Mary Grace Robertson

Mrs. Edna M. Robertson passed away on Sunday, December 29, 2019 in Portland, Oregon.  She was a life long resident of Northeast Portland, the community that she loved and help to develop.  She saw a lot of changes in the community in which she lived.  In the 70s, she began her career at Model Cities which morphed into Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (NECN).  She retired in 1994 as the Executive Director of NECN.  Early on, she saw the plans of the urban renewal and the challenges of the pre-gentrification for the North and Northeast Neighborhoods.  In the 80s, when neighborhoods became under siege with drug houses and drug dealers, she stood on the front line to remove that stigma from the neighborhoods.  She had compassion for the citizens with whom she worked with.  She fought for economic justice and educational equality.  She received several awards on national and local levels for her leadership and collaborations in and around the community.  She worked with the Portland Fire Bureau campaign that lowered the death in North and Northeast Portland.  She believed in citizen participation, making a difference, working together in the community as a human race for a better place to live.

Celebrating her legacy are 3 daughters, 1 son, 2 grandchildren and 1 great grandchild and a host of relatives, loves ones and dear friends from the community.

Mrs. Robertson’s celebration of life will take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at 11 am at Rose City Cemetery and Funeral Home, 5625 NE Fremont Street, Portland, Oregon 97213.  Friends and loves ones of Mrs. Robertson and her family will be received at a reception immediately following the committal in the foyer of the chapel.  Everyone is welcome.