Alaska School Yearbooks by County
Pedro Rife Rado
Former Juneau resident Pedro Rife Rado died Aug. 4, 1998, in Ketchikan after a brief illness. Services were held Aug. 8 and 9 in Ketchikan.
Rado was born Oct. 22, 1952, in Juneau, to Pedro F. and Betty Lou Rado.
He began working on commercial fishing boats in Southeast Alaska when he was five years old, and worked in the industry throughout his youth. He later worked to provide a subsistence lifestyle for his family and friends.
He also worked as a driver for Sourdough Cab.
Rado attended Dartmouth College until his father became incapacitated. He then went to work on the Alaska pipeline to support his family in Ketchikan. He lived and worked in Valdez, Anchorage and Fairbanks for many years before moving to Juneau, where he married Kathleen George.
They lived in Juneau for 14 years before returning to the Rado family home in Ketchikan with their daughter Nicole.
He was a member of the Ravenstail Weavers Guild; Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp #15 and #70 in Juneau; Sealaska; HEO #302 Union; and the Filipino Club.
He was preceded in death by his parents Betty Lou and Pedro F. Rado Sr.
He is survived by his wife Katy Rado of Ketchikan; daughter Nicole Johnson; brothers Theodore and Fernando Rado of Juneau and Marcaro Rado of Ketchikan; nieces Kiara and Elizabeth Rado of Ketchikan; and nephew Sitkah Rado of Ketchikan.
Pallbearers were Norman Arriola, Doug Modig, Thomas George, Richard Shields, Edward Lucas, Moose Johnston, Nathan Jackson, Matthew Williams Jr., Harvey Shields, and Bob Orr.
Honorary pallbearers were Chris McNiel Sr., Doyle Abbott, Ron Branda, Rosemary Buchmeier, Jeff George, and Jennifer Henderson.
Memorial donations may be made to Kathy Rado, Tongass Federal Credit Union, or sent to 5891 Roosevelt Drive, Ketchikan, AK 99901.
Cynthia R. Willis
Former Juneau resident Cynthia R. Willis died Aug. 5 in Angoon following a long illness. Services were held last weekend.
Willis was born Jan. 27, 1953, in Juneau, to Rodney W. and Lena (Tom) Hunter. She grew up in Angoon, attending local schools and Mount Edgecumbe High School.
She loved walking and being with her children.
"She had a great sense of humor," a family member said. "She will be missed very much."
Willis was preceded in death by her husband Chris Willis; mother, Lena Hunter; and brothers Irvin Hunter and Rodney Hunter Jr.
She is survived by her companion, Jeff George; father Rodney Hunter Sr.; daughters Lois Jamestown and Kristi Willis; grandchildren Marcy Stepetin and Carl Steptein Jr.; and maternal grandmother Emma Demmert, all of Angoon.
She also is survived by her sisters, Doris Hunter of Sitka, Marcella Hunter of Angoon, and Jackie Hunter of Juneau; brothers Johnny Hunter, Kenny Hunter, Mike Hunter, William Hunter, and Scott Hunter, all of Angoon; and eight nieces and eight nephews.
Pallbearers were Tuff Guy Hunter, Stanley Johnson Sr., Joey George, Richard George Sr., Floyd Jim, Roger Williams, and Frank Joseph III.
Michael "Mike" Nichols
Longtime Juneau resident Michael "Mike" Nichols died July 21, 1998, at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle after a very short illness.
He was born Dec. 4, 1948, in Glendale, Calif., and attended school in Gardena and Anaheim, Calif. He was in the first graduating class of Sycamore Junior High School, where he won first place three years in a row for band - he played French horn throughout his schooling.
He moved to Alaska in 1976, and worked in Fairbanks and Anchorage before moving to Juneau in 1978. He was a member of the International Laborers Union Local 942 for 17 years, and the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 302 for the last six years.
He worked for Red Samm Construction and subsequently Secon for the past 18 years, and traveled to the Aleutian chain, Nome, Dutch Harbor, Hooper Bay, King Salmon, Dillingham, Denali National Park and various communities in Southeast.
He was an avid baseball enthusiast, in particular a fan of the California Angels. He enjoyed reading and music, and especially his cabin on Colt Island, which he loved to share with his friends, his family wrote.
He is survived by his wife and companion of 16 years, Maureen Smith of Juneau, mother Jean Telford of Juneau, father W.C. Nichols of Dallas, Tex., brothers Patrick of Juneau, twin brother Terry and younger brother Dennis, both of Phoenix, Ariz., nephew Patrick Nichols and Kristi of Winnsboro, Tex., nieces Kelly Calderon and Edger, also of Winnsboro, and Lorri Aulsbrook and Stanley of Sulphur Springs, Tex., great nephew Michael Calderon and great nieces Sarah Aulsbrook and Ashley Nichols, all of Texas, his Godson Jake "Little Jake" Tanner of Juneau, and many friends throughout Alaska and the Lower 48.
A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Sunday at the Moose Lodge to reflect on his life. Contributions may be made to the donor's favorite charity.
Mike's ashes will be spread at his cabin at a later date.
Arthur "Rusty" Martin
Longtime Juneau resident Arthur "Rusty" Martin died Aug. 25, 1999, on a boat in Cross sound, near Elfin Cove.
He was born May 7, 1939, in Killisnoo and attended the Mission Catholic School in Skagway and Juneau public schools. He worked in construction and as a commercial truck driver, painter, and commercial fisherman, and helped build the trans-Alaska pipeline.
He belonged to the Teamsters and was a Goldbelt, Sealaska and Shee Atika shareholder.
His family writes that he was always willing to lend a helping hand and that he shared his expertise as a driver and heavy equipment operator with two generations of relatives, teaching his younger family members how to drive. He enjoyed working on cars and fishing with his brother. He loved children and his cat, and was an avid reader and a fan of country western music. He was appreciated for his sense of humor.
He is survived by his wife, Teri K. Martin, his mother Elizabeth Samato Martin, his sister Darlene M. Tyson, his brothers Lyle, Harold and Dennis Martin, all of Juneau, his sister Beverly Licon of Seattle, brother Alvin Martin of Los Angeles, aunt Emma Licon of Seattle and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins in Juneau, Sitka and Seattle, and the Samato family of Angoon.
He was preceded in death by his father, Arthur Martin and his sister Joan England, both of Juneau, and his uncle William Samato of Angoon.
Services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday at Alaska Memorial Park, 3839 Riverside Dr., with a reception immediately following at Greuning Park Recreation Hall.
Pallbearers will be Darrel Larson, Bud Harris, Ben Cornell, Mike Ruhle, Bob Brooks and Larry Riley. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Hughes, Jerry Samato, Matsu Samato, Ed Phillips, Lou Dischner, Tyler Eckles and Vern Hardin.
The family can be contacted at P.O. Box 21246, Juneau 99802.
