Alex's Memorials

Last month, my Stepfather, Alex Combs, passed away. I flew to Anchorage for one memorial service and then drove and boated to Homer and Halibut Cove for another.

In addition to my brother and Mom, Alex's three sons - Sam, Jonathan, and David - were there along with Sam's wife Jayna, Daughter Alexa, and David's daughter Analise.

Because Alex was quite a well-known Alaskan artist (called "The Father of Alaskan Abstract Art" in a newspaper obituary) as well as a long-timer art professor, the Anchorage memorial was held in the Anchorage Museum. Alex designed a series of friezes that adorned the outside of the building for years until it was remodeled at which point the friezes were moved inside. Over 100 people attended the Anchorage memorial including former colleagues, students, friends, and neighbors.

Two days later, in the small, island outpost of Halibut Cove the entire community gathered to inter Alex's ashes in a hole dug into bedrock which was later capped with concrete. Overlooking Katchemak bay, the small cemetery has beautiful views in all directions. As a temporary gravestone, a bust of Alex, sculpted by one of his students was set up over the grave. The bust has been sitting outside for 20+ years and was covered in moss and lichens and gorgeously aged.

At the Halibut Cover ceremony, members of the community spoke from the heart about their love for this big bear of a man who was always quick to laugh and to hug, slow to anger, and a generous giver of his time and himself to all who he met.

Also, because Alex wished it, we sprinkled some of his ashes over his garden (the potato patch to be exact).

After the memorial, we made s'mores, and toasted to Alex with a bottle of Absinthe he had in the cupboard. All in all, it was a celebration of the life and art of this great man who rose from abject poverty in rural Kentucky to go on to build ships and act as a salvage diver in WWII, play professional football (WAY before the NFL), study in Europe, move to Alaska, teach high school and college art, and finally to retire to a small island where he created art literally until the day he died.

Alex lived "A Long and Artful Life" and we'll miss him very much. A link to some photos of the memorials and the trip can be found HERE.