James Bentley Kallander

1954 - 2014

James Bentley Kallander, 59, of Cordova, Alaska, died Thursday, July 31, 2014. He passed following a brave three-year battle against cancer, surrounded by his family. The oldest of five children, Jim was born on August 5, 1954 in Amityville, New York to David and Barbara Bentley Kallander. His early childhood years were spent in Tempe, Arizona. After his parents divorced at age 11, Jim moved with his mother and siblings to the small farming community of Elba in upstate New York. It was there that he developed his work ethic: haying, harvesting, and milking cows. From an early age he showed a love for working outdoors, hunting and skiing. After high school, he lived in coastal Massachusetts, Nantucket Island, and Maine; where he spent his time working in marinas, ski shops, bike shops, and playing music. Jim became a certified ski instructor and moved to the Mt. Washington Valley in New Hampshire, and then Aspen, Colorado, before venturing to Mexico to surf the Baja Peninsula. He chased the waves to Hawaii in 1975 where he explored the island of Oahu by motorcycle and worked as a salvage diver in Pearl Harbor. It was in Hawaii where Jim first discovered commercial fishing gillnetting for mullet. It wasn't long before commercial fishing became his beloved vocation and passion. In the spring of 1977, a commercial fishing job led Jim to Cordova, Alaska. He said that he knew that Cordova was home upon arrival. Jim began his long career on Alaskan waters as a deck hand on a seiner in Prince William Sound. He eventually saved up enough to buy a wooden stern picker, which he used to fish dungeness crab in Orca Inlet. He ran tenders and crabbers in Prince William Sound and the Bering Sea for several years before buying into gillnetting to fish the Copper River flats. Jim bought into seining in 1987 and participated in the halibut derby fisheries before the quota system was implemented. Long lining soon became his favorite fishery and he began buying IFQ's to fish halibut and black cod in the central Gulf of Alaska. Throughout his busy fishing career, Jim was a sought after spot pilot. In his Super Cub, he spotted herring across the state from Sitka, to Togiak, to Dutch Harbor. During his years as a spot pilot, Jim visited villages throughout western Alaska with his best friend, business partner, and fellow pilot, E.J. Cheshier. He spoke fondly of his travels with EJ out west: camping on remote beaches, eating whale and seal, and trading with the native Alaskans. Jim became a helicopter pilot and could be seen flying over the Copper River Delta to his cabin at Boswell Bay, or taking friends for a scenic ride. These experiences, and others, only added to Jim's love for Alaska and the people who call it home. Jim met the love of his life, Patricia (Patti) Rosenlund Kallander, in 1981. They met in Cordova when Patti, a native of Seattle, moved north in 1975 for some adventure and found work in Cordova's canneries and net mending lofts. They married in 1983 and put their roots down in Cordova, where they raised two daughters; Rachel Kallander, 28, and Emily Kallander, 24. Jim was an avid sportsman and hunted big game across Alaska and the lower forty-eight. Believing strongly in the values of responsible subsistence, Jim taught his daughters how to shoot and hunt at a young age. He raised both daughters in the commercial fishing industry and both remain active in the fisheries of Prince William Sound today. Public service was an integral part of Jim Kallander's life and values. Jim served on countless boards, commissions, and councils in an effort to improve his community and Alaska's commercial fisheries. He served as chairman of the board of the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute and participated as a board member for Cordova District Fishermen United, Prince William Sound Aquaculture Corporation, Copper River & Prince William Sound Marketing Association, the North Pacific Anadromous Fish Commission, and numerous others. Jim also served as a city councilman in Cordova for five years, and as mayor of Cordova from 2010-2013. Jim's mayoral efforts left a permanent mark on Cordova through the developments, infrastructure projects, and initiatives he set into motion. In the spring of 2014, while on chemotherapy, Jim long-lined for halibut in the Gulf of Alaska on his boat, the Miss Emily. A month before his passing, he could be found gillnetting the Copper River flats on the F/V Bounty Hunter. Jim Kallander loved his family, Cordova, and he loved to fish. Jim is predeceased by his mother Barbara Bentley Gaskill; stepfather Charles Gaskill; and stepbrother Ted Kallander. He is survived by Patti - loving wife of 31 years; and daughters Rachel and Emily of Cordova, AK; his father David Kallander and stepmother Anne Kallander of Harrison, ME; his brothers Tom Kallander of Seattle, WA, and Barry Kallander of Bolton, MA; his sisters Cheryl Grau of Glenwood, MD, and Nancy Kallander of Charlottesville, VA; stepsister Julie Levesque of Derry, NH; and stepbrother Chris Kallander of Hollywood, FL, as well as 21 nieces and nephews and 14 great nieces and nephews. In addition to family, Jim will be dearly missed by friends throughout Alaska, Hawaii and the lower 48. A memorial service will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 2 p.m. in the Cordova High School gymnasium. A Celebration of Life will take place immediately following the service at the Reluctant Fisherman. Please join the Kallander family to celebrate Jim's life and his love for Cordova. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial offerings be sent to: The 2x2 Cancer Walk PO Box 2306 Cordova, Alaska 99574 Providence Alaska Horizon House Online giving: https://donate.providencealaskafoundation.org/ Phone: (907) 261-4140