Charles G. "Riz" Bigelow

1931 - 2018

Longtime Alaska resident Charles G. "Riz" Bigelow passed away on Aug. 5, 2018, in Lewiston, Idaho, at the age of 87.
Riz was born in Barre, Vt., on May 2, 1931. He was one of four children born to Vernon and Marcella Bigelow. His family moved to northwest Washington in the late 1940s. Riz found himself in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 1952, which led to a lifelong love of the outdoors and his extraordinary productive career in mineral deposit exploration geology.
Riz was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Vernon Bigelow Jr. and Timothy Bigelow. He is survived by his sister, Melissa Walworth of Boise, Idaho; his first wife, Joyce (Woods) Bigelow-Jarvis of Ferndale, Wash.; and their three children, Charles Bigelow Jr. of Ashland, Ore., Weston Bigelow of Eugene, Ore., and Cynthia Bigelow of Okanogan, Wash.; and his loving spouse, Donna (Morris) Bigelow of Lewiston, Idaho; and their two children, Adam Bigelow of Wasilla, Alaska, and Elizabeth Bigelow of Lewiston, Idaho. He is also survived by seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, as well numerous, nieces and nephews.
He was a man of many passions and interests. Some were history, a broad range of music from classical to folk, jazz and many others, theatre, sports and gardening. His flower gardens were on the Anchorage "Tour of Gardens." His children and grandchildren will always remember him for singing songs, reading to them, and for his colorful stories. He was a wonderful storyteller who infused his experiences with wit and charm. Riz enjoyed nothing more than a stimulating conversation and was known for his biting wit and humor.
Riz earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Geology from Washington State University, where he also undertook doctoral studies. He was sponsored to the Harvard University Program of Management Development, served on the Alaska Governor's Map Advisory Board, and is past President of the Alaska Chapter of the American Institute of Professional Geologists.
C.G. "Riz" Bigelow became a mining industry leader and major driving force in the modern times exploration for mineral deposits in the vast wilderness of Alaska. His 50 year professional career was focused in Alaska, where his conceptual thinking, innovative ideas and unrelenting hard work led to the finding of numerous deposits of gold, copper and other commodities; so much so that five of them are orebodies being mined today. Others of his discoveries are currently under development, most famously the giant Arctic polymetallic deposit in the Ambler district of the Brooks Mountain Range, now where the first new major highway in almost four decades in Alaska is being permitted. With all of this, Riz generated recognizable contributors to the Alaskan economy, providing hundreds of jobs and adding to a stable tax base. He indisputably played a significant role in the commercial development of the State of Alaska.
Riz was a romanticist, scientist, adventurist, explorer and a man highly respected by his peers. He was beloved and will be sorely missed by his family, former coworkers and many young and old time friends.