Valentine "Val" Molyneux

Valentine "Val" J. Molyneux, 69, of Anchorage died Nov. 5, 2008, in Boston.
A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 2222 E. Tudor Road, followed by a celebration of life at the Petroleum Club, 3301 "C" St.
Mr. Molyneux was diagnosed with esophageal cancer while on vacation in Austria. After medical evacuation on Oct. 7 to the Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, he died peacefully there, in the arms of his wife, Sandy. He was a good man, known for highest integrity and unfailing courage, and as a loving husband, father and friend.
Val was born July 14, 1939, in Hyde, Cheshire, England, to the late James and Alice Mary (Valentine) Molyneux.
Val's life was rich in spirit, kindness, generosity, courage, adventure and service. He was a driving force in community organizations, an especially avid mentor for the Western Alaska Boy Scouts of America, a dedicated volunteer for the United Way of Anchorage and a charter member of the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, an oil industry and business development association.
He graduated from Hyde St. Georges School, going to work at 15, attending night school to qualify as a chartered engineer. In his 20s, he worked for Ferguson Palin as an electrical switchgear engineer.
Val joined British Petroleum in 1968 at Grangemouth Oil Refinery in Scotland as a chartered engineer. Here, he took up skiing and sailing and continued mountain climbing and hiking.
When offered, Val seized the opportunity of Alaska to work on the developments of Prudhoe Bay and Endicott Island. He was responsible for the design, module fabrication in San Francisco, and North Slope installation of the first central power plant. Val was North Slope construction manager, at 32, of all BP facilities through startup.
At project completion, already in love with Alaska, Val chose to stay, leaving BP to do so.
Val went to work for Veco. He held senior executive posts, over 24 years until his retirement, including president of the Alaska Region, including Norcon. He also was president of all operations and maintenance business, worldwide.
Val was the 2003 chair for the United Way campaign and proudly served on its executive board for many years.
The Boy Scouts was a lifelong commitment. In his teens, he was awarded the status of Queen Scout in the United Kingdom, honored by Queen Elizabeth.
Val was president of Boy Scouts of America, Anchorage, and served on the executive board and numerous committee positions. He believed in Scouting's ability to provide boys with confidence, leadership skills and a strong moral base. He saw the fundamental influence it had on his own life. Val was an honored recipient of Scouting's prestigious Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service.
He served the Alaska Support Industry Alliance in senior roles including president in 1988 and 1989. He most recently was president emeritus.
From beginning to end, Val savored life's great natural gifts. He had an immense love of the mountains. As a climber in his youth, he attained the summit of Switzerland's Matterhorn. In Alaska, he climbed Mount Sanford and most peaks along the Chugach Range. He was an accomplished skier, cross-country skier and sailor. He returned to the slopes of the Alps at Kitzbuhel for 30 years. He sailed from Port Townsend, Wash., through the Straits of Juan de Fuca, for San Diego, Calif., with a crew of three in 1977.
Among his talents, he was an accomplished pianist, a master musician. An Associate of the London College of Music, he earned an Honors Higher Senior Level status. He continued to study music, most recently at the University of Alaska Anchorage.
As with his music, his work, his service, Val leaves for his family and friends inspiration and much about life, well lived, to celebrate.
Val leaves behind his beloved wife of 17 years, Sandy; daughter, Sally Kessler, and son, Martin Molyneux; stepson, Andrew Macauley; stepdaughter, Stephanie Hanson; grandchildren, Colin, Dylan and Evan Kessler; son-in-law, Greg Kessler; godson, Nicholas Hopwood; sister, June, and brother-in-law, Peter Dunning. All will dearly miss him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts are suggested to The United Way or The Boy Scouts of America, 3117 Patterson Drive, Anchorage 99504.