Joseph Scanlan

Joseph Scanlan Obituary - October 29, 1936 to September 25, 2025

Joseph (Joey) Scanlan, bon vivant, bartender extraordinaire, and all-around stand-up guy, passed away on Thursday, September 25, just about a month before his 89th birthday. Born in Brooklyn, NY on October 29, 1936 to an Irish mother (Margaret Gilroy Scanlan) and a Scottish father of Irish descent, (Joseph Scanlan), he was the second of four children, following sister Sally, preceding sister Patricia and brother Frank. He was raised in a two room tenement with a communal toilet in the hall and no privacy or peace. He was born in poverty but aspired to live far from the misery into which he was born, metaphorically and physically.

He entered the US Army in January of 1955 and served three years, was honorably discharged in January of 1958. He often joked that he was a hero, but was uncomfortable when people thanked him for his service. After he was discharged, he briefly lived in Brooklyn again, but wanderlust struck and he was off to the bright lights and big city of Las Vegas.

He lived in Vegas for 12 years, during the "Rat Pack" days, when Sinatra and Dean and the boys were everyday sights. He began working in the culinary industry at that time, working his way up from a bus person to a server to a bar back. In order to become a bartender, it was necessary for him to either work as a bar back for a year or go to another city and gain a year's experience as a bartender. To that end, he and a friend flipped a coin to choose between San Francisco and Anchorage as destinations. Anchorage won, and he was off to his next adventure.

While in Anchorage, he worked as a bartender in every venue from Gentleman's clubs to hotels to restaurants to pubs. He was in his element when behind the bar, completely in control, joking, advising customers, matchmaking, flirting. Some of his exploits are legendary, from Vegas to Anchorage: filling the Caesar's Palace fountain with bubbles, taking an ad out in the Las Vegas newspaper announcing the sheriff's paternity to a litter of kittens, and offering customers the opportunity to pose with the Stanley Cup (actually just a styrofoam cup labeled, "Stanley") while behind the bar at F Street Station come to mind. As recognition for his most excellent work behind the bar, he was awarded a Certificate of Recognition for his service helping FedEx pilots tell lies and "further their romantic lives". The owner of F Street, where he worked for over 20 years, installed a plaque at the bar naming Joey "A Bartender's Bartender". He awarded himself the the Prettiest Golfer in Alaska 1993 trophy, much to the chagrin of the tournament's host and other players, though it was all taken in good humor.

While in Anchorage, he finally "settled down". He married Kim Armstrong in 1975, 1976, and 1989 (took a bit to get it right), and his beloved daughter Megan was born in 1980. He went to work at F Street Station, where he spent the next 20 or so years, calling it the best job he'd ever had. He traveled to Europe seven times, taking Kim and Megan with him, and visited California and Mexico on the years he didn't go to Europe. While visiting California, he reconnected with his family, from whom he had been estranged for many years. In his later years, he would brag about the sheer volume of relatives nearby.

He and Kim moved to Palm Desert in 2005, wanting to be in closer proximity to relatives. In Palm Desert, he was able to golf year round and he settled into retirement while Kim continued to work. When Kim retired in 2021, they made one more trip to Europe, then worked on the subtle art of relaxation until they had it just right. His health deteriorated over the last few years of his life, but he remained as active as he could.

He leaves behind his wife and companion of 51 years, Kim, his daughter Megan, his sisters-in-law Katie and Myra Armstrong and Sherrie Scanlan, and generations of Scanlan relatives, including Mark, Kerry, Donald (Tex), Kathy, Tara, Tracy, Rob, Sally Ann, Audrey, and the next generation of nieces and nephews, as well as friends literally all over the world.

He loved to travel, loved to golf, and no one loved to party like Joey Scanlan. If there is one thing that we as a family know, it's that he's already gotten the party started, wherever he is. Raise a glass, toast to a life well lived, and remember this proud Irishman with love.

A wake/celebration of life and internment at Ft. Richardson Army National Cemetery is planned for May 6th. The internment will take place at 1pm, and the wake will be held at the Buckaroo Club from 3pm to 6pm. Please confirm attendance for either or both events to [email protected], as both require information regarding the number of attendees. Please join us to celebrate the many lives of Joey Scanlan.