Kathryn "Kay" Silides

Kathryn E. "Kay" (Kennedy) Poland Silides, lifelong Alaskan and former state senator, died peacefully in her sleep Sept. 3, 2010, at the Anchorage Pioneer's Home.

Born in Portland, Ore., on Oct. 12, 1919, Kay traveled to Anchorage with her family shortly after her birth. She spent her early years growing up in Anchorage, moving to Palmer during high school. Kay's father, James Kennedy, along with her brothers, owned Kennedy Hardware and Kennedy Haberdashery in downtown Anchorage. Kay graduated from Palmer High School in 1937 and continued her education by attending the University of Washington and the Moravian College for Women in Bethlehem, Pa.

Following her schooling, Kay went to work for the Territory of Alaska in Juneau. It was in Juneau that Kay met her future husband, Bill Poland. It was "love at first sight," and the two were married in a matter of months. Kay and Bill, who was a bear-hunting guide and commercial fisherman, immediately started a family and spent the next several years living in Kodiak, Homer, Afognak and Bill's bear camp in Uyak Bay. The family moved to Kodiak in 1954 when it was time for their oldest child to begin attending school.

Kay spent much of her adult life in Kodiak, raising a family, working as a bookkeeper and participating in local politics. When husband Bill was elected to the Alaska House of Representatives in 1964 and later the state Senate in 1966, Kay played a major role in organizing and managing his campaigns. In 1969, then Sen. Bill Poland had a major heart attack and was no longer able to serve. Kay was appointed to the remainder of his term.

Politics was a "passion" for Kay, and she gladly spent many hours working with constituents, finding solutions to problems and issues with which they were dealing. Kay served as state senator from the Kodiak-Aleutian District from 1969 to 1978, and became well known and respected by many Alaskans statewide. She served as co-chair of the Senate Finance Committee, and chairman of the Natural Resources Committee during the mid-70s when Alaska was determining how to prioritize spending and saving of its new-found oil wealth. One of her personal passions was support and development of the Alaska Pioneer Home system.

In 1978, Kay ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor. Following that effort, she was appointed by then Gov. Bill Sheffield as director of Commercial Fisheries, serving in that capacity until 1983. At that time, Kay retired from public office and moved to Kenai with her husband George Silides. While living in Kenai, Kay owned and operated the "Peanut Gallery," a local gift and home decor shop. In 1992, Kay sold the Peanut Gallery and retired. Suffering from the effects of multiple small strokes, Kay entered the Anchorage Pioneer's Home in 1997.

Kay's hobbies and interests included reading, traveling, Irish music and spending time with her family. She and husband George had a cabin at Cooper Landing where they both loved spending time.

Kay was preceded in death by her parents, James Kennedy and May Metcalf; and her sister, Frances Bergdahl.

She is survived by her husband, George Silides; son, Pat (Marge) Poland; daughters, Kathleen Carlsen and Shannon (Allen) Anderson; five stepchildren, 16 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

The family wishes to extend its most sincere gratitude and thanks to the staff of the Anchorage Alaska Pioneer's Home for the professional and loving care they provided to Kay during the past 13 years.

A funeral was held on Sept. 7 at St. Innocent's Russian Orthodox Cathedral in Anchorage. Honorary pallbearers included former state Sens. Chancy Croft, Jay Kertulla, John Rader, Bill Ray, Arliss Sturgulewski and Clem Tillion.

Donations may be made in Kay's name to St. Herman's Seminary, 414 Mission Rd., Kodiak, 99615.

Arrangments are with Janssens Evergreen Memorial Chapel, www.janssenfuneralhomes.com