Sandy Williams

Wallace (Sandy) Kingman Williams, Jr. was born in Houlton, Maine to Elsie Barbara Park Smart Williams and Wallace (King) Kingman Williams. He grew up in Alburgh, Vermont, where he attended elementary and high school, graduating in 1954. He went on to earn a Civil Engineering degree from Norwich University, class of 1958. Sandy married Susanne May Croft in 1959 and shortly thereafter moved to Juneau, Alaska, where they raised their two sons, Wallace (Rusty) and Michael. They loved Juneau's community spirit and the many lifelong friends forged over 65+ years. Sandy never met a stranger and always had a great story to tell.

Sandy started work with the Bureau of Public Roads and then left the state for service in the US Army at Fort Belvoir, Virginia. He returned to Juneau to spend 30 years with the State of Alaska, ultimately in the position of Southeast Regional Engineer, a post he held for 8 years. In that position he was responsible for all aspects of planning, designing, building, and maintaining highways, airports, docks, harbors, and State buildings in the region. He continued his military dedication, retiring from the Alaska National Guard Army Engineers group.

In his retirement, Sandy served 10 years as Douglas Island Pink and Chum (DIPAC) Special Projects Manager. In his last 4 years he also added Harvest Manager to his duties. His final year, DIPAC harvested 16 million pounds of salmon. He continued to serve on the fish hatchery's board after retiring for a 2nd time.

He was an active sportsman in high school and college, and throughout his life. He played basketball, baseball, softball, and ran track. Sandy was a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan, though he had to wait nearly 70 years to see them win the World Series. He ran the Boston Marathon in his college freshman year, finishing 67th. He was a faithful runner, attempting 1000 miles a year most of his life. Sandy's Juneau baseball/softball team was the Capitals. He travelled to Europe four times with Senior Softball USA. He also officiated for 40 years at softball and basketball games. He grew up hunting and fishing with his father, King, and continued to do so in Alaska for salmon, halibut, deer, elk, moose, and caribou. His favorite Alaskan spot was his cabin on Swan Island.

Sandy was past president of the Alaska Society of Civil Engineers, Professional Civil Engineers, Juneau Rotary Club, Juneau Glacier Swim Club, and Southeast Alaska Master Gardeners Association. He was a past board member of the City & Borough of Juneau Parks & Recreation, City & Borough of Juneau Planning Commission, Juneau State Parks Advisory Board, DIPAC, Douglas 4th of July Committee, Juneau Community Garden Association, and others. He was honored with a City & Borough Community Service Award, Juneau ASEC 1996 Engineer of the Year, Juneau Chamber of Commerce Lifetime Service Award, Juneau Rotary Service Award, and a Paul Harris Fellow recognition.

Always willing to lend a hand, he worked on building the Treadwell Ice Arena and Pioneer Pavilion in Douglas. At the Juneau Community Garden, he organized construction of a large event shelter and electric fencing and took part in other projects there over time. In retirement, Sandy enjoyed starting and growing tomatoes, cucumbers, and summer squash every year for Juneau's Super Saturday Plant Sale. For 10 years, he headed up the Juneau Community Garden potato project by sorting potato seeds, handing out starts to members, planting, weeding, and harvesting. He and Susanne also helped to teach parts of the Master Gardener classes and some workshops at the Cooperative Extension Office UAF in Juneau, and they spent 7 years teaching gardening at Johnson Youth Center.

Sandy was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife Susanne; children Wallace (Rusty) Kingman Williams, III (Kathleen) and Michael Blaine Williams; grandchildren Erin Ann Brenner (Bucky) and Kurtis Bradley Williams; great grandchildren Cali Brenner and Cameron Brenner; sister Barbara Baker, and many nieces and nephews.

Sandy loved Alaska.

Donations in Sandy's name may be made to Juneau-Douglas High School Hockey (send to JDHS Activities Office 10014 Crazy Horse Drive - Juno, AK 99801 - Attn: Kayla Price) or the Douglas 4th of July Committee (send to Douglas 4th of July Committee at PO Box 240436 - Douglas, AK. 99824). A celebration of life will be held sometime this summer.