Dennis James Hubel

Dennis James Hubel, age 71, passed away peacefully and surrounded by his loving family at home Monday, September 16, 2019 after battling several health issues over the past three years. He was born November 3, 1947 in the Manhattan Borough of New York City, N.Y. He lived in New York until the age of 3 when his family moved cross country to Portland, Oregon, to join family. He grew up in Southeast Portland playing baseball long into the evenings. Denny attended Marshall High School before heading to Cornell University on the Navy ROTC scholarship where he majored in electrical engineering and played rugby regularly. He headed to Cornell with a sizable Portland contingent and has maintained many lifelong friends from his days at Cornell. He joined the Alpha Tau Omega (ATO) fraternity and this past spring was able to attend the 50th reunion.

After graduating from Cornell University in June 1969 he was interviewed by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover. Following his acceptance into the program, Denny attended the Navy Nuclear Power and Sub Schools that prepared him for deployment during the Vietnam War on the USS Will Rogers, the last of the original ballistic missile submarines made in the United States. After being Honorably Discharged from the U.S. Navy, Denny moved to Washington State where he worked on the first Breeder Reactor where he soon realized that engineering was not his lifelong dream. However, while living in Washington he volunteered for a legal aid lawyer, Arnold Pedowitz, where his interest in the law was cultivated. Denny attended Lewis & Clark Law School, where he would later teach as well, graduating cum laude in 1976. He began his law career in Portland and was working at Mitchell, Lang & Smith when he met his beautiful wife Marcia. They were married in April 1983 and in June 1984 they welcomed their daughter Kinsley. After six years Denny and his family moved to Bend where he became a partner in Karnopp, Peterson, Noteboom, Hubel, Hansen & Arnett, LLP working as a defense attorney in Central Oregon. He had a distinguished career defending Mt. Bachelor over the years. In July 1991 Denny and Marcia welcomed their son Grayson. A few short years later he was selected as a Federal Magistrate Judge initially part time before being sworn in as a full time Federal Magistrate Judge in the 9th Circuit in January 1998. His lengthy and distinguished career as a member of the judiciary included many contributions to the Educational Foundation and the Historical Society in addition to being active in the Professional Liability Defense Fund. Denny was known to both family and colleagues as a man of unshakeable integrity, incredibly hard working and a skilled truth teller. He retired from the bench at the end of 2014 and maintained his involvement with the Court, working his final Criminal Docket in November 2016.

He provided unending love and support to his wife and children, promoting his children's growth, education and careers whole heartedly. Denny was a dedicated Boy Scout Leader and aided Grayson in his successfully becoming an Eagle Scout. He also was a youth soccer coach and referee supporting his kids in their many sports endeavors. He also dearly loved the many family pets over the years. His passion for travel, hiking and photography lead his family on several amazing trips over the years from Yellowstone to France and eventually fulfilling his dream of exploring Africa. He truly inspired those who knew him and will be greatly missed by so many.

Denny is survived by his loving wife of 36 years, Marcia; beautiful children, Dr. Kinsley Hubel and EMT Grayson Hubel; his sisters, Janice Kelly and Cheryl Lorenzo; his mother-in-law, Bettie Maring; aunt, Jeanne Neale and Linda Huff; brothers-in-law, Dave Lorenzo and Mark Maring; and his nephew and nieces, Jeremy, Jocelyn, Gabrielle; and great-niece, Annelise.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Jacquelyn Hubel.

Denny will forever be remembered as a strong, noble, highly intelligent man of unflinching integrity who loved his family and was passionate about his friends and distinguished law career. His loss is heavily felt by his family and friends. The Hubel family would like to extend our gratitude and thanks to the many physicians, nurses and staff who cared for him over the past three years including The Mayo Clinic, Providence St. Vincent's Medical Center, Providence Cancer Center Oncology/Newberg, St Vincent Heart Clinic, Portland Clinic downtown office, Providence Neurological Specialist, The Oregon Clinic Gastroenterologist, The Oregon Clinic at St. Vincent's Pulmonary Critical Care Team and the exceptional staff at Providence Hospice who helped us make Denny's last days at home so comfortable and special.

After serving as an officer on the USS Will Rogers, Denny's recent passion was the 2020 Commissioning Ceremony of the USS Oregon SSN 793, a Virginia class nuclear submarine. This submarine commemorates the history between the State of Oregon and the U.S. Navy. The USS Oregon was christened October 5, 2019 with water from Crater Lake and Oregon wine.

The Hubel Family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the USS Oregon. Donations: Portland Council NLUS, P.O. Box 2985, Portland, OR 97208, Memo: USS Oregon Commissioning, In Memory of Honorable Dennis J. Hubel.

A Celebration of Life will be held at 1 p.m., Saturday,November 9, 2019, at The Mountain Park Church, 40 McNary Parkway, Lake Oswego, OR 97035.

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