Andy John Hope III
Juneau resident Andrew "Andy" John Hope III died after a brief battle with cancer on Aug. 7, 2008, at the Mount Edgecumbe Hospital in Sitka, surrounded by family. He was 58.
He was born Dec. 23, 1949, in Sitka. An enrolled citizen of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, he was of the Sik'nax.ádi (Eagle/Wolf Moiety/ Killer Whale-Brown Bear crest), X'aan Hít (Red Clay House) and the child of the Kiks.ádi (Raven Moiety/Frog crest). His Tlingit names were Xaastanch (Killer Whales Coming Down in a Wave), and Néech Deiw (Stopped at the Beach).
Author, educator and tradition-bearer, he was a leading advocate for Alaska Native education. At the time of his death, Hope was executive director of the Sharing Our Knowledge Tlingit Clan Conference. He previously served as regional coordinator of the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative of the University of Alaska, as a tribal enrollment officer for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and as administrator of the Sitka Tribe of Alaska.
"He upheld his family in a loving way," his mother said. "His family was happy to live in his shadow."
His family and friends recalled his words: "You don't need to take the credit, let others take the credit, as long as the work gets done."
He was dearly loved and will be missed by his family and many friends, they said.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Elizabeth "Sister" Goodwin Hope; first wife, Ann Beaudion; and father, Andrew "John" Hope Jr.
He is survived by his mother, Christine Littlefield; siblings and their spouses, Kathy and George Erickson, Gerry Hope and Vicki D'Amico, and Greg and Ellen Littlefield; children, Christopher and Tillie Hope, and Andrew Percy Hope IV and Ishmael Hope; stepdaughter, Violet Goodwin; and grandchildren, Michael Hope, DJ Hatmaker, Ryan Samuelson, Jacob and Felisha Hope, and Elizabeth Hope.
A traditional Tlingit ceremony will be held at 5 p.m. at the Alaska Native Brotherhood Hall Camp 1. He will then lie in state at the Kayaashka Hít (Coho House), until 5 p.m. Sunday, when the ANB memorial service will begin at the ANB Hall. The funeral service will be held at 4 p.m. Monday at St. Michael's Orthodox Cathedral. Receptions will follow each day's program.
Pallbearers will be Ishmael Hope, Andrew Hope IV, Michael Hope, George Erickson, Christopher Hope, and Ralph Brady. Honorary pallbearers are Herman Davis, Harold Jacobs, Fred Hope, Isabella Brady, Lydia George, Willie Goodwin, John Littlefield, Peter Metcalfe, Ishmael Reed and Carla Blank, Sergei Kan, Steve Langdon; co-workers of the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative, and Van Morrison.
A special service is planned to memorialize Andy Hope at the next Sharing Our Knowledge Tlingit Clan Conference in Juneau, March 25-28, 2009.
For more information, call Gerry Hope at 907-738-3377 or Ishmael Hope 907-209-0523. Condolences can be sent to C/O Christine Littlefield, P.O. Box 705, Sitka, AK 99835.