Jerah Chadwick

1956 - 2017

Jerah Chadwick, 2004-06 Alaska State Writer Laureate, died June 7, 2016, in San Antonio, Texas, while in the loving care of his sister, Barbara, after a relatively short battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born in Tacoma, Washington, in 1956, his Air Force family moved continuously until his father retired in Tucson, Arizona. Finishing high school there, he then attended Lake Forest near Chicago. With a degree in English, he moved to the Pacific Northwest where he worked for Seattle newspapers.
There he met his lifelong companion, Mike Rasmussen. Looking for cheap rent, they moved to Unalaska and took up residence in an abandoned World War II Quonset hut four miles from Dutch Harbor at Morris Cove. There Jerah wrote poetry and raised goats while Mike did woodworking and carpentry. Starting in 1986, Jerah spent winters at UAF working toward a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing, which was granted in 1988. While in Fairbanks, Jerah lived in the dry, wood heated cabin of his friend, Joe Enzweiler, while Joe was in the Lower 48.
Jerah took a job administering the university's Aleutian and Pribilof Center in Dutch Harbor. He and Mike moved into upscale digs in a World War II officer's bungalow on Nervina Hill with a sweeping view of the harbor, electricity and oil heat but no water.
An astute and creative administrator, he expanded the university's off-campus offerings in the rural area he served. He was regarded as an inspiring and caring teacher whose infectious enthusiasm inspired his students. In addition to his university work, he helped organize a "Culture Camp" to teach lost Unangan bentwood hat construction techniques to young people of the Aleutians. He assisted elder Andrew Gronholdt, helping students make the famous long-billed hats.
Upon retiring, the university appointed him professor emeritus for his outstanding work. To celebrate this, Mike built a completely new house with the same stunning view and electricity but still no water. In addition to publication in many journals, his poems appeared in book form in 1980, 1984 and 1990. A major collection, "Story Hunger," was published by Salmon Press in Ireland with enthusiastic reviews and a second printing in 2005.
Jerah was preceded in death by his partner, Mike Rasmussen; his good friend, Joe Enzweiler; his brother, Father John Scott, OSB; his sister, Sandra Scott Stringer; and his mother and father, Lucy and Wesley Chadwick. He is survived by his sister, Barbara, and her husband, James Nardone; their children, Michael and Jennifer; his brother, James Chadwick, and family; and his brother-in-law, Bill Stringer.
Jerah's sister, Barbara, is visiting Dutch Harbor this week to spread his ashes at Morris Cove and will be in Fairbanks later for a gathering at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 30, at the Georgeson Garden pavilion. Light refreshments will be served. If participants wish, they may bring the same. Unfortunately, Jerah's favorite food, Krispy Kreme doughnuts are not available.