The Oak Harbor City Council took time out to acknowledge a noticeable absence from the Tuesday night meeting.

Richard Pasewark, a frequent observer of council meetings and a city volunteer, passed away Feb. 2. He was 79 years old.

“As a valuable and contributing member of the Oak Harbor community, Mr. Pasewark’s dedication and insightful contribution to this city will be greatly missed,” said Councilman Danny Paggao, acting as mayor pro-tem.

Pasewark served on the city’s comprehensive plan task force, the open space advisory committee and the sidewalk ad hoc committee. As a consistent advocate of smart planning practices and even-handed decision-making, Pasewark sat through council meetings and addressed the body — as well as the planning commission and other boards — more often, perhaps, than any other member of the community.

While Pasewark shared many views with his friend, Councilman Paul Brewer, Pasewark was not really a gadfly or critic in the way that Brewer is. Instead, the retired professor usually offered his thoughts in an analytic, but always humble, take-it-or-leave-it manner.

But Pasewark wasn’t afraid to take unpopular stands or question power. As a member of the comprehensive plan task force, he complained about the council’s decision to bypass the group for comp plan amendments. Before a hostile crowd of over a hundred people, he was one of four people who spoke last fall in favor of a proposal to develop the Fakkema farm.

Brewer said he was thankful for Pasewark’s calm guidance.

“He influenced my ideas and changed my approach on doing things,” he said. “He was a good ally to talk to when things weren’t going exactly right at City Hall.”

Councilwoman Sue Karahalios served with Pasewark on the city’s comprehensive plan task force, which is a local group that weighs through vast amounts of information in order to create sound policies to deal with growth.

While she didn’t always agree with him, Karahalios said she always respected him for his hard work, thoughtful approach and determination to stand up for what he believes.

“He was so good at getting you to really examine what your stand is,” she said.

Before retiring, Pasewark was a professor of psychology at the University of Wyoming, an advocate for the mentally ill and a nationally-known expert of the insanity plea. Pasewark was so well respected that former students established a scholarship fund in his honor.

He chose to move to Oak Harbor in 1994 and quickly became involved in local politics. City leaders say the community is better off for his interest.

“Mr. Pasewark’s dedication to his community and the wisdom and expertise he imparted and demonstrated in servitude to the city of Oak Harbor will be greatly missed,” Paggao said.

Memorials may be made to the Richard Pasewark Scholarship Fund in Psychology, University of Wyoming Foundation, 1200 East Ivinson Avenue, Laramie, WY 82070.