Obituary - Richard J. Stitt, Sr.

Wednesday, November 17, 2004
THE JUNEAU EMPIRE

Longtime Juneau resident Richard James Stitt Sr., 74, died Nov. 14, 2004, at his home.

His Tlingit name is Tsuneil, Naaw da sayk of the Tlingit Nation, Eagle Tribe, Clan Kaa x'oosihittaan (Eagle/Wolf), Clan House Kaa x'oosi Hit, Thunderbird Wolf crest.

He was in the first graduating class of Mount Edgecumbe High School in 1948. He received a bachelor's of science degree in microbiology and public health in 1960 from Seattle Pacific College in Seattle, Wash. He served as a sergeant in the Marine Corps during the Korean War from November 1950 to November 1953. He was a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood, Camp No. 2, Grand Camp Executive Committee, and a board member of Sealaska Corp. He was a self-governance coordinator for the Central Council Tlingit and Haida Indians of Alaska.

He is preceded in death by his father, David Malloy Stitt of Bellingham, Wash., and mother, Louise Beth Joseph of Klawock.

He is survived by his wife, Teresa Stitt of Juneau; his daughter, Christine Swanson of Juneau; his son, Rodney Stitt of Juneau; his son and daughter-in-law, Rick and Cathy Stitt of Seattle, Wash.; grandson, Michael (Sarah) Stitt of Bonney Lake, Wash.; granddaughter, Teri (Phil) Foster of Federal Way, Wash.; grandson, Rory Stitt of Portland, Ore.; granddaughter, Brandi (Ben) Fontana of Juneau; granddaughter, Amber Stitt of Juneau; great-granddaughters, Julia Fontana and Ryanne Fontana, both of Juneau; sister and brother-in-law, Loretta and Jim Neal of Juneau; nephew, Paul (Deonne) Neal of Juneau; nephew, Jim Neal Jr., of Juneau; niece, Carla (Bruce) Wood of Juneau; nephew, Larry (Nicki) Neal of Juneau; niece, Janice Neal of Juneau; niece, Jennifer High of Juneau; brother-in-law, Leonard (Ernestine) Kato of Klawock, Alaska; sister-in-law Mary Schriner of Albany, N.Y.; brother, Fletcher Stitt of Seattle, Wash.; brother, Jack Joseph of Lake Port, Calif.; and other numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 6 p.m., Friday, Nov. 19, at Centennial Hall with a dinner afterward at the ANB Hall.