Victor Eugene Favier (1928–2026)

Victor Eugene Favier was born on December 30, 1928, in New York, NY and lived in Rutherford, NJ until his parents split up when he was 9. Then he lived with his mother’s parents in Lyndhurst, NJ (Oscar & Henretta Breddenbeck). When he was 14, his grandfather passed away and his father (Victor Joseph Favier) returned from Bermuda where he worked on a naval base doing carpentry. He moved with his father on a bus (seated in the aisle, not a seat) to El Paso TX. He has memories of seeing the oil well flares for miles and miles as they traveled across northern Texas and Oklahoma. He spent his high school years at Austin High in El Paso, graduating in 1946 where the values of curiosity, hard work, and service took root and stayed with him throughout his life.

Service and Education

After graduating from high school early in January of 1946, Victor worked for his father digging foundations for houses using a jackhammer. He saved his money and attended the Texas College of Mines that summer, taking courses in chemistry and geology. That summer, his father’s sister (Aunt Florence Dwiggins) passed away. Before summer school ended, he found he could not afford to pay his way. He heard that the GI bill was ending so joined the U.S. Army at age 17-1/2 on an 18-month enlistment. He served for more than a year in Japan after which he returned to the United States. That early experience—both disciplined and world-opening—helped shape the steady, thoughtful man many would later know as “Vic”.

Returning home, Vic pursued higher education in Boulder, Colorado, for a reason that always made him smile. Vic loved climbing on rocks, and on a trip to Boulder Dam (now Hoover Dam) he noticed the incredible rock faces and the joy of scrambling and climbing there. Later, when he was deciding where to apply for college, he looked for a school in a place called “Boulder”—and that’s how he ended up in Boulder, Colorado. There he met his first wife, Maryann (Rasmusen) Favier. He became a teacher by calling and found his true home in the sciences, where his enthusiasm and clarity made difficult topics feel possible, even exciting. Vic was never content to stop learning.

A Career in the Sciences

Vic and Maryann’s first child was David Reid Favier, followed by their daughter, Mary Elaine Favier, born in Fort Morgan, Colorado, where Vic had his first high school teaching job. Their third child was Dale Alan Favier.

In a moment that became family legend, Victor and his young family moved to Oregon “on a whim” during a summer break. He walked into the 4J administration building to ask if they needed a science teacher and was immediately recruited by the Pleasant Hill School District Superintendent, who famously exclaimed, “I need a science teacher!”. The family purchased their first house in Eugene on Larkspur Loop, a milestone that marked the start of a long Oregon chapter rooted in work, family, and community.

Victor taught for several years at Pleasant Hill High School during which he took a one-year leave to attend Harvard on a Science Foundation scholarship, an accomplishment that reflected both his intellect and his determination.

He joined the faculty at the newly built Sheldon High School because it was close to the home he was living in at the time. He taught for a time and took classes at the U of O to receive his masters. He later joined Lane Community College, where he spent 20 years teaching the sciences. He enjoyed taking his classes on field trips to immerse themselves in the natural world. He influenced generations of students, leaving them with the confidence and curiosity to understand the world through a scientific lens.

Values and Signature Traits

Vic was defined by a quiet steadiness and deep respect for the natural world. He didn’t just look at things—he studied them. His love of fossils and minerals was a lifelong pursuit, and he spent countless hours volunteering at the University of Oregon, carefully documenting and strengthening geology collections with a meticulous and generous spirit. Vic also carried a “fresh eyes” approach to life—always curious, always looking closer, always asking “why.” He was a steady presence - a man who valued learning and found meaning in helping others understand the world a little better.

Family and Legacy

In 1983, Victor met the love of his life, Shirley (Cross) James. They married in 1985 and built a wonderful life together in their home off University Street in Eugene, filled with companionship, conversation, and the quiet joys of a life well lived.

He is survived by his children; David Favier (Caroline), Dale Favier (Martha); his stepchildren, Brian James, Greg James (Brenda); and a large extended family of seven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Maryann (Rasmusen) Favier, his daughter, Mary Elaine Favier, his beloved second wife, Shirley (Cross, James) Favier, who passed away in July 2019, and brother, David L. Favier, who passed away in February 2022.

Service and Memorials

A celebration of Victor’s life will be planned at a later date. The family looks forward to gathering with friends and loved ones to remember Vic’s remarkable life, his quiet wisdom, and the many ways he enriched the lives of those around him. Details will be shared when arrangements are finalized.

Memorial Donations: In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, in support of its fossil, geology, and mineral collections, or to the Lane Community College Foundation to support science education—both causes reflecting Vic’s lifelong passion for teaching and the natural world.