(January 9, 2011) Ronald Arthur “Ronnie” Fadaoff was born on Woody Island in 1932, and passed away following a brief illness at the Providence Kodiak Island Long Term Care Center on Jan. 9, 2011. He was 78 years old.

A Celebration of Life memorial service was held Jan. 11, 2011, at the Care Center. Later this year when all his family can gather his ashes will be spread on his beloved Woody Island as well as at West Point Village where he had resided for more than 30 years.

Ronnie was born to Anastasia “Nettie” Fadaoff. Some of his childhood was spent at the Kodiak Baptist Mission where he made many friends. He attended school in Kodiak and went to Mount Edgecumbe in Sitka.

He served in the United States Army infantry from 1952 to 1954, where he honed his cooking skills. He was stationed at Fort Richardson.

Shortly after his military service ended, he married Martha Patarochin in Kodiak. Ronnie and Martha loved and enjoyed raising their daughter Margaret.

Ronnie began his boat-building and repair skills while working for Alvines Boat Repair. Ronnie commercially fished the Kodiak waters most of his life and worked on the Teresa Lee for Bob Resoff on the Yukon River for many years. He also worked in the local canneries with his wife Martha.

In the aftermath of the 1964 earthquake and tidal wave, he helped move many stranded fishing boats from downtown Kodiak back to the harbor. Many historic photos document this trying time, including those on display at the Kodiak Inn.

After Ronnie moved to Uganik, he fished salmon, cod, halibut and herring. He later married Julie Justine Komm in Kodiak. Ronnie and Justine shared their life together in Uganik until her death in 1996. Ronnie was also a watchman for Cook Inlet Fisheries in Uganik.

He was a jack-of-all-trades. Ronnie built boats and skiffs, a home on Spruce Cape and another home at Uganik. He knew how to fix anything. Ronnie will also be well remembered for his smile and infectious and contagious laugh.

A severe heart attack led to his being in long-term care, first in Kodiak, then Seward and the last three years back in Kodiak.

He was preceded in death by his mother Nettie in 1973; his brother Alex Fadaoff in 1988; young brothers Raymond “Skip” Harmon; and Vietnam conflict hero Danny Harmon in 1967.

He is survived by his daughter Margaret and her husband Gary Roberts; grandchildren Leslie Ann (Russell Heglin), Shelly (Frank Peterson Jr.), Jeremy (Tarran Roberts) and Lachelle Roberts (Robert May); great-grandchildren Desiree Heglin, Samantha Heglin, Merrick Allain, Tyler Peterson, Luther (Dewey) Peterson, Aiden Peterson and Jerin Ray Roberts; great-great-grandson Deagan Knagin; siblings Michael “Mitch” Gregoroff (Donna), Paul Harmon, Maurice Harmon (Cindy), Rayna Wetham, Leanna “Lee” Castillo (Tony),and James “Jim” Harmon. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews and cousins, the many descendants of Woody Island and his extended family at the Care Center in Kodiak. He will be greatly missed by all his long time friends and family.