Anchorage Daily News

Lifelong Alaskan and Homer resident Frank William Hill died Oct. 9, 2007, at Alaska Regional Hospital after a valiant battle with cancer with his wife, Dottie, by his side. He was 67.

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Frank Hill

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Mr. Hill was born Dec. 16, 1939, at home in Iliamna to William F. and Katherine (Trefon) Hill. He was the second-oldest and first-born son among 13 children. Frank found a second father in Chester Wilson after the death of his own father when he was 7 years old.

After Frank completed the eighth grade, his teacher told him that he had taught Frank all that he could. Frank then spent his time hunting and trapping as a way to help provide for his family. Frank decided he wanted to further his education and enrolled himself in a children's home in Wasilla.

After graduating from Wasilla High School in 1960, Frank attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks, graduating with a bachelor's degree in education in physical science in 1969.

As a dashing Nanook hockey player with a red sports car, Frank caught the eye of his future wife, Dottie Baltzo, who was a classmate at UAF. They were married in Anchorage on Oct. 7, 1967. Frank was a proud veteran during the Vietnam era.

After completing his student teaching at Romig Junior High, Frank taught at Wendler Junior High before returning to the Bristol Bay region in 1972. He was a math and science teacher at Bristol Bay Consolidated High School in Naknek and continued the family tradition of commercial and subsistence salmon fishing during the summer months.

He was proud of his combined Finnish and Athabascan heritage and named his fishing boat the F/V Finndian. Frank took his continuing education seriously and returned to graduate school twice over the years, earning a master's degree from the Harvard School of Education and completing further graduate work at Montana State University.

Frank began working for the Lake and Peninsula School District as the assistant to the superintendent and served as superintendent for nine years, during which time he was instrumental in the formation of the Lake and Peninsula Borough. He was the second Alaska Native superintendent to serve in Alaska.

After semi-retiring in 1997, Frank and his wife, Dottie, moved to Anchorage, where he served at the Alaska Federation of Natives as co-director of the Alaska Rural Systemic Initiative/Rural Challenge Program until retiring in 2005.

Frank dedicated his entire life to furthering the educational opportunities for all Alaskans living in the Bush so that they would not have to leave their homes and families to obtain an education. Mr. Hill was recently honored as the Bristol Bay Native Corp.'s 2007 Citizen of the Year. He was deeply humbled and honored for their recognition of his lifelong service to his home region.

Frank always put his family first. He lived his life with integrity and goodness. He always gave wise counsel sprinkled with humor and he loved to tell a story. His twinkle and quiet goodness will be missed greatly by his family and friends.

Mr. Hill is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dottie, of Homer; daughter and son-in-law, Diedre and Patrick O'Neill of Soldotna; daughter and son-in-law, Camille and Zach Sorensen of Soldotna; son, Warren Hill of Anchorage; grandchildren, Roan and Gabriel O'Neill and Sophia, Sorin and Eva Sorensen, and a large extended family including many close friends.

Frank's ashes will be spread by his wife and children at special locations they shared together.

In honor of Mr. Hill's dedication to education, a scholarship fund will be created in his name to assist village students in reaching their educational goals in an effort to better their home communities. Donations may be made to the BBNC Education Foundation in Frank's name at 111 W. 16th Ave., Suite 400, Anchorage 99501.

Those who would like to send a letter of fond memories to the family may do so through caringbridge.org. Type "frankhill" in the field asking for a specific caringbridge Web site.