A warm, wonderful goodbye to ‘The Schonz’

Military reps lift the U.S. flag from Schonely’s casket at Willamette National Cemetery

He was always comfortable in the limelight, taking that spot on center stage with confidence and verve.

Bill Schonely would have loved his grand send-off on Friday.

From private memorial service to military salute to a reception for family and friends, “The Schonz” got a goodbye fitting for royalty.

The Trail Blazers’ beloved broadcaster/ambassador died on Jan. 21 at the age of 93, meaning that “Rip City” got to embrace him well beyond what might have been his expiration date. Schonely suffered a serious heart attack at age 52 in 1981 but, with the help of a pacemaker/defibrillator, enjoyed life and made people happy for four more decades.

His legions of fans will bid a fond farewell to the former Marine and Portland icon at a public celebration of life on March 13 at Memorial Coliseum. On Friday, those closest to him paid tribute during a trifecta of events.

The private service at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church — Bill and wife Dottie attended there for about 10 years — drew a crowd of nearly 300, including the church’s wonderful sanctuary choir that numbered at least 50.

The service opened with “Amazing Grace,” a song often played at funerals and memorial services. The Schonelys have particularly liked the song, in part for its frequent use at military services. Attendees heard it three times during the day’s events. It was poignant in that the presiding reverend, Dr. Craig Flach, mentioned one thing he remembered well about Bill was “his grace.”

The casket — covered with a U.S. flag in honor of his military service — was positioned up front near the podium by his request. Flach said the church was not in the practice of playing host to such a thing — in fact, had never done it. Before he died, Bill had requested to be carried out of the church by his pallbearers.

“It’s what Bill wanted,” Flach said with a smile, “so it is what we are doing.”

Family — including Dottie, 92, in a wheelchair — were seated in the first few pews on one side of the church. On the other side were the pallbearers, former Blazer players Jim Barnett, Chris Dudley, Lloyd Neal, Larry Steele, Wally Walker and Bill Walton. Also, speakers Geoff Petrie and Terry Porter. In the audience were other ex-Blazer players Terry Dischinger, Brian Grant, Michael Harper and Darnell Valentine, along with Bucky Buckwalter, the former director of player personnel.

Former Blazers (from left) Wally Walker, Jim Barnett, Lloyd Neal, Chris Dudley, Larry Steele and Bill Walton served as pallbearers for Schonely’s service

Flach explained to the congregation the origin of the term “Rip City,” the descriptive phrase Schonely used for the first time during that inaugural 1970-71 Blazer season, when Barnett’s howitzer against the Lakers provided the inspiration.

“It was before the days of the 3-point shot,” Flash explained, at which Petrie interjected, “it was a bad shot.” Laughter all around.

There were songs, including “The Lord is my Shepherd,” requested by Bill to the reverend.

“He said, ‘It’s the one with the oboe,’ ” Flach told the audience.

Then after a scripture reading, the speakers were brought to the podium.

Petrie was the leadoff man, the original Trail Blazer draft pick, for three years Schonely’s broadcasting partner and best man during Bill and Dottie’s wedding in 1991.

“If there were a Founders Club, it would be Bill, Harry Glickman, Berlyn Hodges, George Rickles and John White,” Petrie said of the original executive staff. “What an incredible group of people to come together to start what has become a great franchise in the NBA.”

Among Petrie’s remarks: “He was always game ready. When he put those headphones on, the game would come to life. … There was no load management for the Schonz. If he had a sore throat, suck on a lemon. … If the Blazers were playing poorly, talk about the opponent.”

And: “He became the soul of the franchise.”

Petrie couldn’t let Schonely’s well-deserved reputation as … well, thrifty slide without a gag.

“He loved wine, and had only two criteria: It had to be Chardonnay, and it had to be free,” Petrie said. “He always found a way to save his per diem on road trips. When he had a condo on Molokai, we called it the ‘Per Diem Ranch.’ ”

Porter never heard Schonely’s work, because he was playing when The Schonz was broadcasting. But he knew the man, and he knew the legend.

“Schonz is the one some say will always be the voice of the Blazers,” Porter says. “He was a fixture in both the Coliseum and Moda Center. So many people watched the game on TV but listened to the radio to hear Bill’s voice and his description of the game.”

Veteran TV and radio personality Paul Linnman was friends with Schonely from the time he was a short-term sports director at KATU-TV in the early 1970s.

Media personality Paul Linnman delivers eulogy during Bill Schonely memorial service at Lake Grove Presbyterian Church

“Bill and I made a pact years ago: ‘If I go first, you speak at my funeral,’ and vice versa,’ ” Linnman said. Pause. “I’ve canceled plans for my own service. Schonz isn’t going to be there.”

Linnman said Schonely’s impact on the city is unprecedented.

“Bill Schonely is singularly responsible for bringing NBA basketball into our culture in Portland,” he said. Portland turned into Rip City. It’s never happened in any sport in any other city that I know of.

“We have lost one of a kind. There will never be another Schonz, a true American original.”

Julianne Johnson-Weiss delivered a beautiful rendition of the Lord’s Prayer, accompanied by the great Michael Allen Harrison on piano. After a prayer, another hymn and a blessing, it was time for instructions to the pallbearers, issued by Flach: “You can take Schonz lickety brindle up the middle.”

Then Taps again, and the casket was rolled down the aisle, out the door and into the hearse for the Schonz’s final ride.

•

Next it was on to a procession of cars, dozens of them, from the church to Willamette National Cemetery in Happy Valley, where Schonely was to be interred. The procession was guided by policeman directing traffic standing by freeway entrances and on motorcycles, from the church to Interstate-5 south to 205 east and all the off roads to the cemetery. For probably an hour, both freeways were shut down to outside traffic.

It was a remarkable display of communication and precision by what must have been about 50 officers representing four police departments. The delegation arrived intact in about 45 minutes. How did it happen so smoothly?

The request from the Schonely camp started with the Lake Oswego Police Department, which reached out elsewhere for assistance. The name “Schonely” holds sway in these parts.

“It takes an act of God to shut down a freeway,” Jack Schonely, Bill’s cousin and a retired L.A. Police Department officer, told me. “But this was for The Schonz.”

Willamette National Cemetery, administered by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs, was the perfect place for Bill’s final resting place. A six-volley gun salute was sounded. Six military personnel brought the casket into the gathering center where several dozen were assembled. Two of the soldiers lifted the flag draped over the casket and folded it in Marine precision, handing it to Dottie. A representative of Willamette and Rev. Flach each said a few words. Fittingly, sun broke through the clouds.

“It rained most of the morning,” Flach told the crowd. “The sun is shining for Bill Schonely.”

Taps played. The Schonz was officially transferred from life to the hereafter.

•

Family and friends proceeded to Waverley Country Club in Portland for a reception hosted by the Schonely family. Most of the former Blazer players present at the memorial service, along with Buckwalter and many other former and current Blazer employees, made an appearance. There were food, drinks and a lot of talk. On a TV monitor ran an updated version of the video tribute that was displayed on the Jumbotron during Schonely’s retirement night event at Moda Center. Dottie sat and watched it in silence for many minutes. My guess is it will be shown during the public celebration of life next month at the Coliseum.

It was truly the end of an era. The last man standing from the first day in Blazer history is now gone.

But what a man he was.

“What a day for the memory of a remarkable man,” Walton told me. “The speakers did a great job. Everything was well-organized. It was just perfect.”

I think The Schonz would have approved, too. And been impressed.

“Dad would have loved this,” his son, Rick Schonely, told me. “He’d have been so proud.”

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