Maxim Dolchok

1937 - 2015

Maxim Dolchok, 78 years old, passed away peacefully at his home in Anchorage, Alaska, after a long battle with multiple illnesses and Parkinson's, on Dec. 6, 2015, surrounded by his loving family. Memorial mass will be held at 12 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 17, 2015, at the Holy Cross Parish, 2627 Lore Road in Anchorage. Father Joseph McGilloway OSB will officiate. A celebration of Maxim's life will follow at 2 p.m. at South Central Foundation, Gathering Room, 4501 Diplomacy Drive in Anchorage. Max was born on Nov. 6, 1937, to Polly Dolchok and Valentine De La Cruz in Kenai, Alaska. Max was a loving and devoted husband to his wife, Lisa, of 56 years, whom he met through a friend and fellow patient at the Mt. Edgecumbe TB hospital. He loved doing everything with Lisa, including spending time with their family, practicing traditional subsistence lifestyle and traveling, as well as learning and teaching others along her side. They were soul mates and partners in every part of their lives. Maxim made many remarkable and invaluable contributions to his community. He was a National Guard Veteran, a former Executive Director of Cook Inlet Native Association and Cook Inlet Housing Authority. He has worked extensively as a consultant, trainer and grants writer. He also was the first chair of Southcentral Foundation and chaired the steering committee for SCF's Family Wellness Warriors initiative for men's healing and family wellness. He helped to form many CIRI nonprofits including Southcentral Foundation and Cook Inlet Housing Authority. His personal and professional mission was to help meet the needs of Alaska Native people. That mission brought him to a variety of professions such as a former loan officer with SBA, a commercial fisherman, LPN nurse, APA cannery storekeeper, volunteer health aide, certified electronic technician as well as a JC Penney's furniture mover. He was a strong defender of Native rights and the needs in the community for housing and basic needs. He was devoted to everyone he helped and to Native men he said, "Rise up men, you are the warriors!" Some fond memories his family have of Max include him taking them to the JC Penney's warehouse when they were small, to see the rabbits that ran wild there, and to drive all around Anchorage neighborhoods to view Christmas lights. His daughter and granddaughters remembered that he called all of them "baby" and they all responded "which one?" when he called. He worked hard to take his family camping, teaching his sons and daughter to fish, dig clams and prepare traditional foods. Tern Lake and Ptarmigan Creek were his favorite places to fish for trout. He fished everything, but loved fishing rainbows and dolly varden trout. His family says there is still the one stuffed rainbow trout somewhere in his home. Max was always looking for ways to be closer to God. He was the director of Native Ministries at Holy Family Catholic Church and always said, "God first, then family, and then work." Maxim was proud of his Filipino and Dena'ina ancestry and was a Kenaitze tribal member and CIRI shareholder. He was preceded in death by his parents, Polly Dolchok and Valentine De La Cruz; brother, Nick Dolchok; sister, Tanya Green; brother-in-law, Bill Green; his son, Rayno Dolchok; and many Dolchok cousins. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lisa Dolchok; daughter, Carla Hellman (Alvin); sons, Maxim R. Dolchok (Tanya) and Rian Dolchok; grandchildren, Rene Kakaruk, Kristen Libardi (Steven), Calvin Beasley, Maxim R. Dolchok Jr. (Stephanie), Nicole Hellman Cook (Tony), Rochelle Wariner (Tyler), Nicholas Hellman and Chrysalis Dolchok; eight great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; as well as brothers-in-law, Richard Lopez (Bonnie), Mickey Lopez (Karen), John Brieby (Anecia), George, Wally Charles, Jim Larsen (Nena), Ken Cochran (Gladys) Mischief (Emily) and Clara Amidon; and many friends. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to hospice of Anchorage. Please visit Maxim's obituary and online guestbook at www.AlaskanFuneral.com.