1964 ALASKA EARTHQUAKE FATALITIES
By Coleen Mielke 2012

 March 27, 1964 at 5:36 PM, Alaska experienced the largest earthquake ever recorded in North America. The epicenter of the quake was in the Prince William Sound, about 75 miles East of Anchorage and 55 miles West of Valdez. It lasted four (+) minutes (it seemed like a lifetime) and was measured at 8.4 on the Richter scale; the newer - corrected magnitude scale registers the earthquake as a 9.2   Personally I will never forget it; I still have trouble going into a building that is taller than two levels and every earthquake tremor flashes me back to 1964.

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'.

 If you would like to add information about someone lost
in the 1964 earthquake,  please write to me: coleen_mielke@hotmail.com
(Thank you very much to those of you who have already written)

When you search the Internet for fatality statistics, regarding the 1964 Alaska earthquake, you are going to find a wide variety of  totals. Some sources list only those who were killed by tsunami waves; some sources add those killed inland; some sources add those that died in Oregon and California.  This page includes everyone I could find, including  those that perished  while trying to come to the aid of others and a few that died of heart attacks during the earthquake.

The following information is privately owned.
Please do not re-print or republish in any form
without my written permission   coleen_mielke@hotmail.com

(Not in strict alphabetical order)

REST IN PEACE

If you find a name below that has been underlined, you can
click on that name to read their personal story

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 Infant	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 Reid, Frank O.		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
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.
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
Williams, Milton Thomas "Bud"	42	Valdez, Alaska	Husband of Lois Lee (aka Maggie Pearl) Gilliam Williams
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.
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.
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.  coleen_mielke@hotmail.com YOU ARE GUEST # Click Here To Go Back To My Main Alaska Page
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