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In talking with people about Randall Kester, who passed away May 31 at the age of 95, three sentiments arise repeatedly: He was a mentor, he was a professional and he was a gentleman.

Kester began his career in 1940 as an associate with Maguire, Shields, Morrison & Biggs, the predecessor of Cosgrave Vergeer Kester. Over the years, he taught at Lewis & Clark College鈥檚 Northwestern School of Law, served as an Oregon Supreme Court Justice, became general solicitor and senior counsel for Union Pacific Railroad’s Northwestern District, and then returned to private practice at Cosgrave Vergeer Kester.

In 2006, Kester became 鈥渁ctive emeritus鈥� with the Oregon State Bar and was a frequent speaker and author. His professional honors included induction into the American Academy of Appellate Lawyers.

Outside of the office, Kester volunteered his time and expertise to the Mt. Hood Ski Patrol, the Portland Chamber of Commerce, City Club of Portland, Oregon Ethics Commons, National Ski Patrol, Oregon Symphony Association, United Way, Willamette University, Oregon Independent Colleges Foundation, Portland Committee on Foreign Relations, Pacific Crest Trail Association, and Boy Scouts of America. He enjoyed hiking, climbing, skiing, bicycling, boating, canoeing, whitewater rafting, photography and reading.

Bill Crow, a Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt shareholder, became friends with Kester through an annual St. Patrick鈥檚 Day gathering initiated by Walter Cosgrave. Crow says Kester achieved the ultimate professional honor 鈥� the respect of his peers.

鈥淢ost lawyers want to be known among their peers as one who is dependable, and Randall is certainly one who enjoys that reputation,鈥� he says. 鈥淗e鈥檚 well- regarded as an advocate for his clients, and never lost his sense of being a gentleman and a professional. I don鈥檛 know that any lawyer can ask for more than that.鈥�

Barnes Ellis, general counsel for Mercy Corps, worked with Kester on a long and intensely emotional case that involved KKR鈥檚 buyout of Fred Meyer Inc. in the early 1980s. Kester chaired a Special Litigation Committee for each of the companies in an effort to settle the issues internally, but the case ultimately headed to court and took several years to resolve.

鈥淚 will never forget his patience and his calm deliberate processing of a lot of complex and noisy facts. We became good friends as a result of that experience,鈥� Ellis says.

Ellis adds that Kester was part of a wonderful generation of lawyers who shared a similar manner of warm confidence.

鈥淗e was a person who reflected the very best of the legal profession,鈥� Ellis says. 鈥淓very time you saw him you would feel uplifted that this person is very confident and able and also has a sense of what is important, and he always conveyed it.鈥�

Kester served as president of the Multnomah Bar Association from 1956-57 and received its Professionalism Award in 1991. Judy Edwards, the MBA鈥檚 executive director, says that when asked what professionalism meant to him, Kester replied, 鈥淧rofessionalism has defied concise definition, but most people would agree to what a U.S. Supreme Court Justice once said about pornography: 鈥業 may not be able to define it, but I know it when I see it.鈥欌��

鈥淗e was an amazing person who stayed really sharp the entire time I knew him, well after he turned 90. He always was such a gentleman and took the time to respond to all of our requests and invitations,鈥� Edwards says.

Jim Gidley, a partner at Perkins Coie, previously practiced at Cosgrave Vergeer Kester and recalls a defining moment early in his career.

鈥淛udge Solomon knew that I was working at Randall鈥檚 firm and said, 鈥楾hat is a real lawyer, follow his example.鈥� And I don鈥檛 know that Gus Solomon complimented many lawyers in his time,鈥� Gidley says.

Gidley notes that even after he retired, Kester continued to mentor others. 鈥淚n later years, he was at his happiest professionally when he was working with younger lawyers on problems they had and pointing to areas of solution, but encouraging them to reach their own conclusions if possible.鈥�