Tamara Von Gemmingen
Story Created:
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:19 AM AKDT
Story Updated:
Mar 7, 2008 at 10:19 AM AKDT
Igiugig resident Daniel Robert Salmon, 49, died Feb. 27, 2008, on the west side of Cook Inlet, outbound through Lake Clark Pass.
Daniel was born Aug. 4, 1958, in Penfield, N.Y., and moved to Alaska in August 1982.
He was the Igiugig Village Council tribal administrator from 1985 to 2008, Igiugig Native Corp. trespass officer, and owner of Bristol Bay Drift Boat Permit, Igiugig Boarding House and Igiugig Transport. Daniel also performed airport maintenance for the State of Alaska.
He earned a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Daniel was a Lake and Peninsula Borough assemblyman, Lake Iliamna contractors operations manager and served on the local school advisory committee. He was also an alternate on the Iliamna Lake Fish and Game Advisory Committee and an emergency trauma technician.
He received a sustainability award for exceptional commitment to this and future generations in 2004 from the Denali Commission.
His hobbies included flying, trapping, poker, fishing, boating and spending time with his family and grandsons. He was devoted to the education of Igiugig youth.
His family wrote: "Dan Salmon, beloved son, father, husband, Ap'a, friend and leader, left this world doing what he loved most - flying. Dan lived a fulfilled life and often remarked, 'I've done everything I've ever wanted to do.' He raised a proud family of five (and) built a strong sustainable community invested in education and the future. A generous leader in every sense of the word, Dan tirelessly served the people of Bristol Bay whether there was a search and rescue mission, serving on various local committees, or lending advice when called upon. As a close friend put it, 'He was a big man, a tall man. Big enough for all Alaska, and tall enough to see the future. He was a man of his time. He was a man for the ages. All of us who knew him are diminished by his absence.' Although Dan has departed us, his vision for the future will be continued by the many who believe in his dream."
He is survived by his wife, Julia Salmon; daughters, Christina Salmon, AlexAnna Salmon and Tanya Jo Salmon; sons, Jonathan Salmon, Jeremy Salmon, all of Igiugig; mother, Margery Salmon, sister, Mary Jo Korona, brother, Robert Salmon, all of Penfield; grandsons, Aiden Wassillie and Keilan Wassillie, both of Igiugig; brother-in-law, Matthew Korona, nieces, Stephanie Korona, Katharine Korona, Leah Salmon, all of Penfield; nephews, Kevin Olympic of Igiugig and Leif Talarik Richardson of Juneau; and son-in-law, Jackie Wassillie of Igiugig.
Daniel was preceded in death by his father, Robert Salmon.
Memorial bequests may be sent to the Salmon family, 4003 Salmon Road, Igiugig 99613.
Arrangements are with Evergreen Memorial Chapel.
