Omar was born and grew up in Minnesota, and first got involved in drama in high school and summer stock there. In the 60’s he moved to “Berserkley,” went back to Minnesota to be a soulful folk singer, spent a summer appearing onstage as a horse thief in North Dakota, joined the Army, left the Army, got married, and moved to Oregon to live on a communal farm.

After his first marriage ended, he worked in the woods; in 1975 he began working as a carpenter, and opened his own business in 1981. During that time he also met and eventually married his second wife, Neila Campbell; they were together until 2002, when she died of breast cancer.

Omar and Neila both loved rafting and canoeing, and he still spends time on the river and working at River House, which he says has kept him whole. We’re grateful that he’s chosen to spend a year with Encore.