Founders

Hamid Maarefi | Founder

October 24, 1963 – Feburary 14, 2007

Hamid was born to Azar and Bahman Maarefi in Tehran, Iran. His childhood was spent in Ahwaz, Iran. Hamid moved to Oregon in 1978. He graduated from Lake Oswego High School in 1981. He pursued his passion for photography at Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, California, and then returned to Oregon to attend Portland State University. Hamid was employed by Lexus of Portland for 16 years. As one of the original 12 employees there, co-workers often called him an “ambassador to Lexus.” Hamid was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at the age of 39.

Read more about Hamid’s story on the Our Inspiration page.

Katrenka Rember, MD | Founder

Dr. Katrenka Rember received her B.S. from Oregon State University. She received her M.D. at Oregon Health Sciences University, where she also completed her residency in family medicine. Katrenka currently practices at Pacific Medical Group in Tigard, Oregon. She is a co-founder of Law Partners, a cooperative support group at Willamette University College of Law, has experience in management, administration and public speaking, and has received awards in teaching.

Katrenka was the caregiver for her fiancée, Hamid Maarefi, who was diagnosed with advanced colon cancer at the age of 39. Eleven months following his diagnosis, she was also diagnosed with colon cancer. Hamid died in their home at the age of 43. In addition to being a cancer survivor and having cared for a loved one who died of cancer, Katrenka has been a family physician in private practice since 1990. This places her in the unique position to understand not only the medical issues and rigors of treatment, but also the emotional and financial impact on cancer patients and their families.

Merle Greenstein | Founder & President

June 22, 1937 – July 17, 2010

A Portland native, Merle Greenstein worked in the recycling industry and retired as the chairman of Manufacturing Management Inc. (MMI) Group in 1991. Merle has served on the boards of various nonprofits for 55 years, including the YMCA, American Jewish Committee, Waverly Children’s Home, Oregon Mentoring, Alzheimer Development Committee, Metropolitan Family Service and others. Merle is intimately familiar with cancer: He lost his mother to ovarian cancer, watched his father suffer from prostate cancer and colon cancer, and is himself being treated for prostate cancer. As a friend to Hamid Maarefi, who succumbed to colon cancer after a three-year battle, Merle has been inspired to help others who are struggling to cope with a cancer diagnosis.

Read more about Merle…

Nasi Greenstein | Founder & Director

Nasi Greenstein has a background in fashion design and held fashion shows for six years to raise funds for helping a variety of organizations treat patients with cancer and other serious illnesses. She has volunteered with hospice organizations locally for more than three years, working primarily with AIDS and cancer patients. Nasi hosted a large fundraising event to raise funds for a terminal cancer patient faced with medical costs not covered by insurance. This experience inspired her to co-found Komak.