1964 ALASKA EARTHQUAKE FATALITIES
By Coleen
Mielke 2012
Listed below, are the names of 128 Alaskan residents, 11 California residents and 5 Oregon residents that died as the result of that earthquake. Most of the deaths were related to tsunami waves (drowning) but not all.
Two kinds of tsunami waves devastated Alaska; first was an ocean-wide sea wave generated by massive tectonic movement of the ocean floor; these waves traveled great distances at speeds of 500+ MPH. The second type was a localized tsunami caused by underwater landslides and sediment slumps near bays and harbors; these waves occurred, literally, within minutes of the earthquake.
The power and magnitude of the 1964 Alaska earthquake caused permanent changes to Alaska’s geography; for example, Latouche Island was moved 59 feet to the southeast, Montague Island uplifted, on one end, by 14-29 feet & sunk 42-49 feet on the other end, and the Portage area sunk about 10 feet.
HERE ARE A FEW EXAMPLES OF TSUNAMI
WAVE HEIGHT
as the result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake
SHOUP BAY in VALDEZ INLET - 220’
HIGH
OLD VALDEZ - 30’ HIGH
OLD CHENEGA on CHENEGA ISLAND - 89.5’
HIGH
WHITTIER on WESTERN EDGE OF PRINCE WILLIAM
SOUND - 43’ HIGH
Seward (on RESURRECTION BAY) - 30’ HIGH
KAGUYAK (on KODIAK ISLAND) - 30’ HIGH
PORT NELLIE JUAN (PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND)
- 49’ HIGH
BLACKSTONE BAY (NEAR WHITTIER) - 79’
HIGH
KINGS BAY - (PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND) 113’
HIGH
Three Alaskan towns, Old Chenega, Old Valdez & Seward lost many lives in the 1964 earthquake:Tsunami waves totally destroyed the tiny village of Old Chenega just minutes after the 1964 earthquake. Every building in the village (except the school and one other small building) was swept out to sea by waves as high as 90 feet; 23 of the 75 village members were killed.
In the town of Old Valdez, the earthquake caused a 4,000’ x 600’ section of the waterfront to slide into Port Valdez, causing a tsunami that killed 30+ people and destroyed the entire town. The town was later moved to its present day location.
Both kinds of tsunami waves hit the town of Seward. A 3,510’
section of the waterfront slid into the bay, causing a 30’
localized tsunami that set the fuel tank farm on fire. Twenty
minutes after the first wave, a 40’ tectonic tsunami wave hit,
which spread the flames and destroyed much of Seward.
Anchorage, the largest city in Alaska,received substantial devastation
since it sits on a bed of inlet clay which liquefied when the earth shook,
causing several large land slides. The largest was in an area called Turnagain
Heights which was built on a 72' high bluff overlooking Knik Arm. An 8,600'
x 1,200' section of the bluff slid nearly 1000', destroying 75 upscale homes
and killing 4 people. Part of that area was never rebuilt and is now called
Earthquake Park. Another land slide on Government Hill destroyed a school
(the earthquake happened on a Good Friday holiday and schools were closed
which saved a lot of lives). Anchorage suffered thirty city blocks of damaged
and destroyed buildings and 8 blocks of Fourth Avenue sunk 10'.
Those of us who lived through the 1964 Alaska earthquake will never forget the terror of that day or the weeks of earth tremors that followed. This page is dedicated to those who died as the result of the 1964 Alaska earthquake and the families they left behind.
| Alexand(e)roff, Simmie | 27 | Kaguyak, Alaska | Village Chief & 3 other men tried to get a boat to take women and children to safety. Last seen holding on to overturned skiff - body never found. |
| Anderson, Eddie | Kodiak, Alaska | Never found | |
| Anderson, Mary | Kodiak, Alaska | Never found | |
| Anderson, Rudy | Kodiak, Alaska | Never found | |
| Arrigone, Adolph John | 1898-1964 |
Crescent City, California | Native of Italy. Drowned in his home. |
| Ayers, Kenneth T. Sgt. | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Baker, Clayton James | 45 | Anchorage, Alaska | An invalid - killed at his home 2036 W. Marston Drive |
| Barnes, David George | 35? | Whittier, Alaska | Father of 3 children below - body never found |
| Barnes,
Micky Lee Barnes, Ricky Dean Barnes, Vicky |
5 4 6 |
Whittier, Alaska Whittier, Alaska Whittier, Alaska |
Child of David George Barnes
body never found Child of David George Barnes body never found Child of David George Barnes body never found |
| Bledsoe, Clarence Paul | 44 |
Kodiak, Alaska | Son of Howard F. and Vera Bledsoe |
| Blendheim, Alfred | Port Ashton, Alaska | ||
| Boddy, Dan | 47 | Valdez, Alaska | Fairbanks resident working in Valdez for the day |
| Brossow, Alfred | 44 |
Seward, Alaska | Never found - Memorial plaque at
American Legion Husband of Elsie Lentz Brossow |
| Brown, Freddy | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Bushor, Jack Leroy Jr | 7 | Kodiak, Alaska | Son of Arlene (Boyer) Wallace and
Jack Bushor Sr. Step-son of Airman Gordon Wallace |
| Byers, Charles W. Sr. | 84 | Cordova, Alaska | Died of heart attack |
| Carriker, Duane Rev. | 33 | Valdez, Alaska | Pastor of Assemby of God Church, body never found |
| Carrol, Thomas | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Chimovisky, Alex | b.1902 Nutchek |
Port Nellie Juan, Alaska | Son of Chief of Old Nuchek |
| Chimovisky, Annie | b.1898 Chenega |
Port Nellie Juan, Alaska | Wife of Alex Chimovisky |
| Chimovisky, Emanuel | b.1928 Chenega |
Port Nellie Juan, Alaska | Son of Alex and Annie Chimovisky
- caretaker for closed cannery buildings at Port Nellie Juan |
| Clawson, AgathaWinifred | 52 | Crescent City, California | Wife of William Clawson Crescent
City, California |
| Clawson,
William E. |
54 |
Crescent City, California |
Owned a tavern in Crescent City, California - drowned on his 54th birthday 3/28/1964 when his boat overturned. |
| Cunningham, Dennis | 15 | Valdez, Alaska | |
| Curry, Maurice | 71 | Kodiak, Alaska | Lived at Kalsin Bay |
| Damon, Frances | Whittier, Alaska | From Soldotna Body never Found | |
| Damon, Larry | 16 | Whittier, Alaska | Son of Francis From Soldotna Body never Found |
| Day, Leonard | 50's | Whittier, Alaska | Lumber Company employee Body never found |
| Day, Alberta | 50's | Whittier, Alaska | Wife of Leonard Body never Found |
| Deis, Mary Eva | 50 | Seaside, Oregon | Died of heart attack when wave struck her home |
| Edwards, Earl Floyd | 56 | Crescent City, California | Husband of Juanita Edwards 11/12/1907--3/28/1964 |
| Edwards, Juanita Pearl | 42 | Crescent City, California | Wife of Earl Edwards 10/4/1921--3/28/1964
Worked at Long Branch Tavern |
| Elbe, Emil | Seward, Alaska | Died of heart attack while running
from tsunami Buried at the American Legion Cemetery in Seward |
|
| Eleshansky, Sally Eleshansky, Steve Eleshansky, Ronda |
b. 1916 b. 1921
|
Chenega, Alaska Chenega, Alaska Chenega, Alaska |
Wife of Mickey Eleshansky
Maiden name Selanoff Father of Ronda Eleshansky Husband of Dorothy Selanoff Daughter of Steve & Dorothy "Tiny" Eleshansky |
| Erb, Frank | Point Nowell, Alaska | ||
| Evanoff, Jack | b.1896 | Chenega, Alaska | Brother of Willie Evanoff |
| Evanoff, Nellie | b.1906 Kniklik |
Chenega, Alaska | Wife of Jack Evanoff maiden name Komokoff |
| Evanoff, Sally | b.1912 | Chenega, Alaska | Wife of Willy Evanoff daughter of Anna Vlasoff |
| Evanoff, Willie | b. 1898 | Chenega, Alaska | Village Chief in 1948 Brother of Jack Evanoff and husband of Sally Evanoff |
| Fenner, Mabel M. | Kodiak, Alaska | Died of heart attack next day (Kodiak Magistrate) |
| Fields, Joan V. | 25 | Crescent City, California | Fiance of Gary Clawson 7/26/1938--3/28/1964 |
| Finke, Lester Floyd | 50 | Seward, Alaska | Swept off of a dock, Body never
found Son of Fredrick and Anna Katharina Finke |
| Granger, Douglas A. | 51 | Valdez, Alaska | Son of Arthur and Jannette Granger |
| Gregorieff, Paul | 50 |
Valdez, Alaska | Crushed by shifting freight on
"Chena" Husband of Mary (Vlasoff) Gregorieff Son of Larry and Natalia Nellie Gregorieff |
| Growden, James Wilson Sr. | 29 | Valdez, Alaska | Teacher & coach at Valdez High
School Son of William Nelson Growden |
| Growden, David | 3 | Valdez, Alaska | Son of James Sr. |
| Growden, James Jr. | 4 | Valdez, Alaska | Son of James Sr. |
| Hammerly, William | Seward, Alaska | ||
| Hammerly, William Mrs. | Seward, Alaska | ||
| Harris, Margaret | 92 | Valdez, Alaska | |
| Harrington, Donald | Seward, Alaska | Never found | |
| Harrison, Robert Percy | 56 |
Valdez, Alaska | Longshoreman unloading the freighter
Chena on dock at Valdez. Son of Percy and Pearl Harrison |
| Hatch,
Jesse Lee |
38 |
Seward, Alaska | Never found- plaque at American
Legion Son of Peter Saposnikoff and Annie Hattie Hatch Husband of Margaret "Peggy" Hatch |
| Henderson, Henry | Valdez, Alaska | Fisherman | |
| Hillsbery, Lavella | 1928-1964 |
Crescent City, California | Tried to warn friend, was found in Elks Creek |
| Jackson, Arvilla | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Dora Ribaloff Jackson | |
| Jackson, Cindy | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Dora Ribaloff Jackson | |
| Jackson, Danny | Chenega, Alaska | Son of Dora Ribaloff Jackson | |
| Jackson, Dora | 29 | Chenega, Alaska | Mother of the above children & daughter of Sam Ribaloff |
| Johnson, Sam | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Jones, Bill | Kodiak, Alaska | Fishing off of Kodiak Island, body never found | |
| Joslyn, George | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Joy, Billy | Port Whitshed, Alaska | Washed out to sea | |
| Kleparek, Gary Lynn | Anchorage, Alaska | Died in surgery from head injury from falling debris | |
| Knight, Leora | Anchorage, Alaska | Wife of Virgil (Virgil lost his leg) | |
| Knutsen, Stanley | 14 | Valdez, Alaska | |
| Kompkoff, Daria | b.1912 Tatitlek |
Chenega, Alaska | Wife of Willie Kompkoff Maiden name Levshakoff |
| Kompkoff, Willie | b.1898 | Chenega, Alaska | Husband of Daria Kompkoff |
| Kompkoff, Julia | 9 | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Nick & Mary (Selanoff) Kompkoff |
| Kompkoff, Norma Jean | 3 | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Nick & Mary (Selanoff) Kompkoff |
| Kompkoff, Richard | Chenega, Alaska | Son of Willie and Daria Kompkoff | |
| Kompkoff, Joann | 3½ | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Avis Kompkoff
Body found on Knight Island |
| Kraiger, Howard H. | 61 |
Valdez, Alaska | Crushed by shifting freight on
"Chena" Son of Elmer and Lenora Kraiger, husband of Jennie Eva Thorstenson |
| Kulstad, Patricia | Valdez, Alaska | Lived on the Valdez dock where husband Robert was a watchman. | |
| Larson, John "Sut" | 33 |
Afognak, Alaska | He was on a boat called the Spruce Cape (body found 4/3/1964) son of Louie and Olga (Naumoff) Larson |
| Layton, Virgil Connoly | 1913-1964 |
Kodiak, Alaska | Died 3/29/1964 doing salvage work
at Kodiak harbor. Husband of Estella Ilean Moniz Layton |
| McKenzie, Louis | 8 | Newport, Oregon | Camping on beach with parents |
| McKenzie, Robert "Bobby" | 7 | Newport, Oregon | Camping on beach with parents |
| McKenzie, Richard A. "Ricky" | 6 | Newport, Oregon | Camping on beach with parents |
| McKenzie, Tammie | 3 | Newport, Oregon | Camping on beach with parents |
| Magruder, Oran Gilbert | 73 | Crescent City, California | Died of heart attack |
| Manson, James W. "Jay" | Kodiak, Alaska | Never found |
| Martinez, Joseph S. | Anchorage, Alaska | ||
| McClure, Donald Sgt. | 36 | Crescent City, California | Drowned while saving his friends
life at the mouth of Klamath River. |
| McCoy, Alvin Ross | 46 |
Valdez, Alaska | Body never found. Husband
of Jean Avis Barrie Ross |
| Mead, Perry III | 12 | Anchorage, Alaska | Never found Child of Dr. Perry Mead & wife Wanda |
| Mead, Merrell P. | 2 | Anchorage, Alaska | Never found Child of Dr. Perry Mead & wife Wanda |
| Mickelson, Lewis | 35 | Whittier, Alaska | Father with 3 children (none
of them ever found) Partner of David Barnes (also perished with his 3 children) |
| Mickelson, Teresa Lee | 6 | Whittier, Alaska | Child of above father (never found) |
| Mickelson, Randy | 5 | Whittier, Alaska | Child of above father (never found) |
| Mickelson, Keith | 2 | Whittier, Alaska | Child of above father (never found) |
| Moe, Victor | Seward, Alaska | Buried in the Seward City Cemetery | |
| Mueller, Donald | 38 | Valdez, Alaska | Died on Valdez dock (never found) |
| Nielsen, Harry | Afognak, Alaska | Lost when boat Spruce Cape broke apart | |
| Norris, Thomas Lt. Col. | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| O'Leary, Don | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Osmonovich, Mike | 46 |
Seward, Alaska | Swept out to sea. Son of Nickola
and Mary Osmonovich |
| Panamarioff, Theodore | 64 |
Kodiak, Alaska | Died when boat "Spruce Cape" broke
apart Husband of Ada Lena (Carlsen) Panamarioff |
| Parks, James | 1901-1964 |
Crescent City, California | Drowned
on Front Street of Crescent City. |
| Pettikof, Sammy | Shuyak Island, Alaska
Cape St. Elias,Alaska |
Disappeared on boat, assumed drowned
in tidal wave Coastguardsman |
|
| Reft, Albert Sr. | 1919-1964 | Kodiak, Alaska | He died trying to save a friends boat at the docks. Neither he nor the friends boat was ever found.Son of John and Katie Reft. Wife's maiden name was Katelnikoff. |
| Robinson, Richard Jay | 28 | Valdez, Alaska | Son of Rex Johnson Robinson & Ruth Stoddard Robinson and husband of Sharon Robinson. He was unloading freight from a ship, his body was never found. |
| Rowe, James | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Rustigan, Mary Louise "Bobbie" | 44 | Anchorage, Alaska | Wife of Baxter Rustigan, mother of Rusty, Bonnie and Robert.Killed by falling concrete from J.C. Penny Bldg. |
| Schmidt, William Elmer "Dutch" | 66 |
Valdez, Alaska | Son of Johann and Caroline Schmidt.
Longshoreman swept to sea after first wave. Husband of Lula
Belle Schmidt |
| Schultz, Eugene Albert | Kodiak, Alaska | Died in tidal wave at Kalsin Bay | |
| Schultz, Rose Marie | Kodiak, Alaska | Died in tidal wave at Kalsin Bay (wife of Eugene) | |
| Selanoff, Jeanne | child | Chenega, Alaska | Daughter of Charlie & Kathy Selanoff |
| Selanoff, William (Billy) | child | Chenega, Alaska | Son of Charlie & Kathy Selanoff |
| Selanoff, Thomas Paul | baby/twin | Chenega, Alaska | Son of Paul Selanoff and Junie Elashansky |
| Selanoff, Robert Jr. | baby/twin | Chenega, Alaska | Son of Paul Selanoff and Junie Elashansky |
| Simmons, Robert Martin | born 5/14/1921 |
Seward, Alaska | Out fishing on his boat, never
found Son of Olive Lay Simmons & Lester Benjamin Simmons. Husband of Louise Ellanna |
| Simmons, Louise | Seward, Alaska | Never found | |
| Spadaro, Frank | 73 | Seward, Alaska | |
| Stapp, Sterling | Valdez, Alaska | ||
| Stuart, Deborah | Valdez, Alaska | Wife of Earl Stuart | |
| Stuart, Earl Lincoln "Smokey" | 33 |
Valdez, Alaska | Son of Dallas Berton &
Dorothy Pearl (Bond) Stuart |
| Stuart, Janice | child | Valdez, Alaska | Daughter of Earl "Smokey" Stuart |
| Stuart, Larry | child | Valdez, Alaska | Son of Earl "Smokey" Stuart |
| Stuart, Marie | 30 | Valdez, Alaska | Wife of Earl "Smokey" Stuart |
| Styer, Lee Marlin | born 9/25/1945 |
Anchorage, Alaska | Killed when the J.C. Penny store collapsed, only son of Leroy and Alice Styer. |
| Tabasco, George | Valdez, Alaska |
| Taylor, William G. | 45 | Anchorage, Alaska | Died in International Airport Tower | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Totemoff, Phillip Jr. | child | Chenega, Alaska | Grandson of Willie Kompkoff | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| VanBuskirk, Jack Theodore | 38 |
Valdez, Alaska | Son of Ralph & Frances
Elba Onalee (Harris) Van Buskirk Husband of Janet Louise Clairmore Van Buskirk |
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| Vlasoff, Anna | Chenega, Alaska | Mother of Sally Evanoff body found on beach | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vosgien, Richard P. | 12 | Kodiak, Alaska | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wallace, Arlene F. |
26 |
Kalsin Bay, Alaska |
Drowned while trying to get back to Naval Station Also drowned was Arlene's son Jack Bushor Jr. |
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| Walunga, Frank | Seward, Alaska | Never found | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ware, Gerianne Dee | 6 months | Whittier, Alaska | Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Jerry Ware | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Waseli, Eli | Kodiak, Alaska | Never found | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wheeler, Phillip G. | Valdez, Alaska | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wisdom, Alva Marvin | 54 |
Seward, Alaska | 1910-1964 Husband of Helen
Edra Barger Wisdom Buried in the Pioneers Cemetery - Seward |
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| Williams, Milton Thomas "Bud" | 42 |
Valdez, Alaska | Husband of Lois Lee (aka Maggie
Pearl) Gilliam Williams |
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| Wright, Bonita Ione | 3 | Cresecent City, California | Daughter of Mr & Mrs. William
Wright. Was separated from his mother
as they tried to flee their home near South Beach.
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| Wright, William Eugene | 10 months | Crescent City, California | Son of Mr. & Mrs. William Wright.
Was separated from his mother as they tried to flee their home
near South Beach. |
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| Wyatt, Donald | 31 | Kaguyak, Alaska | From Los Angeles. He was a geologist. He & his wife, Joyce were camped on Kape Kagyuak, Donald was weighted down with packsack, gun and other gear. His body was sighted by a helicopter & recovered from the lake and buried in Kodiak. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zeeda(e) (Zieder), and Nick (Anakenty) |
Kaguyak, Alaska | Nick, Simmie Alexandroff, Victor Melovedoff & Max Shelikoff tried to get a large skiff that they wanted to use to transfer the women and children from the hill. Nick & Simmie were lost. Nick's body was found on the beach, covered by a broken section of the roof, his body was shipped to Seattle. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zook, Gerald Lee Hibner | Valdez, Alaska | Died on the Valdez dock, body never found. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The above information is privately owned. Please do not
re-print or re-publish it in ANY form without my written permission.
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