Alaska Native Elder Dr. Walter Soboleff Dies at Age 102

Dr. Soboleff was a noted Alaskan pioneer, pastor emeritus of Northern Lights United Church, and an activist for the state’s First People.

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By Sean Doogan

Story Created: May 23, 2011 at 3:58 PM AKDT

Story Updated: May 23, 2011 at 8:26 PM AKDT

Noted Alaska preacher, leader, businessman, and native elder, Dr. Walter Soboleff died Sunday, May 22.

Soboleff, 102 years old, passed away at his home in Southeast Alaska, surrounded by family and friends.

Dr. Soboleff was a noted Alaskan pioneer, pastor emeritus of Northern Lights United Church, and an activist for the state’s First People.

He grew up in the village of Killisnoo and attended Sheldon Jackson School in Sitka.

At just ten years old, Dr. Soboleff served as a translator for doctors helping to stem the 1918 flu epidemic.

He was also a big fan of former president Abraham Lincoln, and was know to quote the Gettysburg Address in the Tlingit language.

Dr. Soboleff inspired generations of Alaska Native leaders.

Angoon Democrat, Senator Albert Kookesh says Soboleff was a man who knew the value of hard work and treating others with respect.

Governor Sean Parnell has ordered all state flags to be flown at half-mast on Wednesday, May 24, in honor of Dr. Soboleff.

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little bookworm said on Tuesday, May 24 at 4:07 PM

as a part of the best buy statement, i meant to type a :---( after the word "bcoz" as an expression of the big buyers faces if things don't go as they wish.

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little bookworm said on Tuesday, May 24 at 4:00 PM

in a time of no medicines as we know them, no computers, tv's, radios, tapes, cd's etc, dr. soboleff became a lead dog, an example to people around him. we are so blessed with family, friends, 100 choices of food, and clothes, and books, and PFD (that a lot of us go straight to our favorite stores with bcoz, one roomful of best buy's best stuff ain't enough.) if dr. soboleff wrote one or more books, i would love to check it/them out from loussac library. i doubt that there are any soboleff's (at least from the dr.'s family)on any of "the books" at the police station, courthouse, or apa or any of our other social services, but even if it's just the same last name, i pray that if/when they watch this on tv or read in the newspaper, that seeing how much of a blessing dr. soboleff was while alive will cause them to think about the rest of their lives.

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