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by Suzanne Stevens, Portland Business Journal, Oct 29, 2013
Portland State University has lost one of its most well-known and respected luminaries.
Nohad Toulan, 81, and his wife Dirce Angelina Moroni, died Monday in a car accident that occurred while they waited at a stop sign at Uruguay.
Toulan joined PSU in 1972 and founded the School of Urban Studies and Planning, which was named in his honor in 2005. According to the school's website, it is the nation's oldest continuously operating instructional program in urban studies.
Toulan retired in 2002 and remained the emeritus dean of PSU's College of Urban and Public Affairs.
"Few represent the ideal of Portland State University more than Dean Toulan," said PSU President Wim Wiewel in a statement. "He was a visionary whose work has shaped metro Portland and cities around the world. He helped draft Portland’s Urban Growth Boundary, which has become an international model of how to manage growth and protect open space."
Toulan was also well known for his work to build connections between Muslims and people of other faiths, according to the Oregonian.
"We the entire community of Oregon lost one of the greatest couples that made our community a better place for ALL. I am not of his faith but Dr. Toulan and I worked together to bring greater peace and harmony to our City and our State," said Portland businessman and civic leader Sho Dozono.
The Portland City Council will begin its 9:30 a.m. public hearing Wednesday with a moment of silence to remember Toulan and his wife.
