David Elliott "(Dave)" Fremming

1940 - 2012

David (Dave) Elliott Fremming (72) passed away December 29 in Salem, Oregon after a valiant battle with brain cancer. He was proud to have been conceived on a fish-buying scow just offshore of Pelican, but he was born in Seattle, Washington on February 1, 1940 to Esther (Davis) and Elliott Fremming. He started the first grade at age 4 in Elfin Cove and completed his elementary education in Pelican. At age 13 he moved to Juneau to attend Juneau Douglas High School, living with his grandmother, Lizzie Davis and uncle, Enid Davis. He graduated with the class of '56.

As a young man, he caught and sold fish out of a skiff he built himself. He saved enough money to pay his own way to Washington State University. He left college for an opportunity to open the first New York Life Insurance Company in Kodiak in 1962. A tidal wave washed away the NYLIC office during the Good Friday Earthquake of '64. He left the island to become a sales representative for Morse Hardware working out of Bellingham, Washington and servicing Southeast Alaska. In the late '60s he moved back to Juneau to become a partner in Skinner's ACE Hardware and then Brown and Oliver, Complete Outfitters. When commercial business in downtown Juneau faced a precipitous decline he took on the role as Executive Director of the Juneau Chamber of Commerce and worked with that organization to build the Davis Log Cabin. After leaving the Chamber, Dave spent 2 years working in Anchorage. Returning to Juneau, he worked at KINY and KJNO. In 1990, he and his good friend Bill Sheehy began publishing the Alaskan Southeaster Magazine; a magazine he said was about and for the people of Southeast Alaska. The magazine was published from 1991 to 2003. Many remember Dave for his strong political views and letters to the editor. Before retiring he worked as a communications specialist for Governor Parnell.

In retirement, Dave and Sharon, along with their beloved cat Barnaby and dog Benny enjoyed RVing. They traveled the United States and Canada and returned to Juneau in the summers where Dave worked as a driver guide for Princess and Holland America Tours. He enjoyed sharing a lifetime's accumulation of Southeast Alaska trivia with people from all over the world. Dave and Sharon spent winters in Casa Grande, Arizona at the Fiesta Grande Resort where they made many dear friends and enjoyed birding and learning all there was to know about the area. Casa Grande is a short drive to Tucson where they spent time visiting with daughters Dee, Kelly, Cori and their families. In the summer, their travels included visits to Ketchum, Idaho to visit son Matt and his family, Jefferson, Oregon to visit daughter Carrie and her family and Placerville, California to spend time with daughter Betsy and her family.

Dave served on the City & Borough Assembly, CBJ Planning Commission and as President of the Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Juneau Rotary Club and Pioneers of Alaska Igloo #6.

His parents preceded him in death. He is survived by wife Sharon; children Elizabeth "Betsy" Waller (Brian), Dee Richardson (Lance), Kelly Fremming (Lyn), Cori Cashen (Ray), Cindy Ruby (Dean), Matt Baxandall (Kelly Marie) and Carrie Hulse (Tim); 12 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Dave requested that his body be donated to science and that no services be held. At a later date the family will gather for a celebration of his life. For those who would like to honor Dave's memory, he supported the work of the Juneau Raptor Center and donations to that organization could be sent to: Juneau Raptor Center, P.O. Box 34713, Juneau, AK 99803-4713.