David Lee Bleyle

David Lee Bleyle, 66, a retired FSO died 7/2/2015 in Portland, OR of complications from Crohn’s disease and Acute Myeloid Leukemia. David Bleyle was born and raised in Tonawanda New York, a suburb of Buffalo by his grandparents Willard and Eva Bleyle. He attended SUNY ESF, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Polymer Chemistry and an ROTC commitment to the US Army. While in the Army he completed an M.P.A. through Brigham Young University and finished his Army career in 1976 as a Captain. David’s career continued in the Foreign Service, where he served in the following posts, Leningrad, USSR (1977-1979), Sydney Australia (1979-1981), FSI, Washington D.C. (1981-1982), Beijing, China (1982-1984), Stockholm, Sweden (1984-1987), Taipei, Taiwan (1987-1988), Beijing, China (1988-1991), Washington, D.C. (3 yrs FSI, 2 yrs Office of Oceans, Environment and Science) (1991-1996), Taipei, Taiwan (1996-1997). He served as Science Counselor in Beijing, China from 1997-2000, followed by a stint in Portland, OR at the NGO U.S. Center for Sustainable Development, and finally as Consul General in Chengdu, China from 2001-2003. He retired to Beaverton OR in 2003. He served on the board of Trustees for three non-profits, the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine, the NW China Council and Kham Aid. His love of travel and having new experiences was satisfied in retirement by his avid motorcycling. He rode his neon yellow Can Am Spider all over the Northwest, Western states and Canada. He is survived by his loving wife Kathy Hobson Bleyle, his two daughters Dawn and Lisa, two grandchildren Holden and Madeline and his dogs Murphy, Daisy and Ripley and cats Ginger and MeiMei who all live together in Beaverton OR. Memorial contributions may be made in his name to Mercy Corps International (https://www.mercycorps.org/) or the food bank in your area.