Benjamin Diego Cantil

1918 - 2010

Benjamin (Alfred) Diego Cantil, 92, died June 28, 2010, in Anchorage with his wife of 62 years, Mary, at his side. 
Born in Metlakatla on June 23, 1918, he was the first son of 14 children of Annie (Alford) Cantil, Tsimshian Killer Whale and Diego Cantil of Cebu, Philippines.
Ben fished alongside his pop on the boats Mary Norene and Isabel by age 5. Ben traded play time for boat engineering. He developed a knack for repair and fabricating tools and engine parts. He fished all those years and became a legendary subsistence hunter, stalking through forests and muskeg from Duke Island to Icy Straits using a deer call he designed and his sons later used. Trained by master totem carvers, Ben carved and helped salvage yellow cedar totem poles at Totem Bight in Ketchikan.
A graduate of Ketchikan High School, Ben earned tuition money to Seattle University by mowing lawns, washing windows and regularly sparring three rounds for $25 with local professional boxers. Ben entered the merchant marine during World War II, completing training in record time.
Ben and Mary married in 1948 and had five sons.
A 59-year-member of the IBEW, Ben was a line crew foreman when he retired in 1980. 
Ben designed and carved Tsimshian yellow cedar icons, grease bowls, canoes, paddles, replicas of trollers, seiners, scows and gillnetters, ivory and baleen pendant jewelry, bracelets and nature scenes in relief.
In 1984, Ben and Mary moved back to his beloved Alaska. They enjoyed family Christmas gatherings, riverside gatherings, outdoor concerts, the Iditarod and quiet time at Lake Hood.
Ben was a spiritual, loyal and loving man who put his family first. Deeply talented, fearless, confident, tender and funny, he had a humility that hid a resourceful, creative and generous husband, father and friend. He had a special bond with his grandchildren, a perfect understanding and unconditional love.   
Often teasing each other into fits of laughter, Ben and Mary created a loving home befitting their partnership. They made a love story for the ages. Ben was inspired by Mary's beauty and how her essence and motherhood of caring and unconditional love bonded his family.
Ben's bravely fought journey against his illness was supported by respectful loving care and compassionate attention from Dr. Steve Tierney, Tom Mitchell, RN, Kristin Dishman, RN and Fatou. 
Ben is survived by his wife, Mary; sons, James (wife Linda), Larry, Corky (partner Sandra), Joe (wife Husch) and Skip (wife Jeannine); grandkids, Chris and Matthew Howard, Ethan and Ayaire Cantil-Voorhees, Reymont, Alana, Benjamin, Isabel and Rena Cantil, Jingjing Hathorne-Cantil, Richard, Jocelyn and Jamie Bratten, Jennifer (husband Adam) Aikens and Karen Koch; great-grandchildren, Haley and Chris Howard, A.J Aikens, Cheyanna Lewis and Brandyn Maschmeier; siblings, Teresa Bariquit, and Bernard, Albert and Benito Cantil; and many nieces, nephews and friends.
"We all thank Ben for his presence in our lives," his family said. 
At Ben's request, no public service is planned.