Gordon Pullar

 You can view Gordon’s service by clicking here 

Dr. Gordon L. Pullar, age 78, of Anchorage, Alaska, passed away on April 18, 2022, after a long illness.
His loving family was by his side.

Gordon was born in 1944, in Bellingham, Washington to Gordon R. Pullar and Olga Rossing. He attended Bellingham High School (class of ’62) and Western Washington State College (now WWU), earning a BA in Sociology and Anthropology in 1973. After many years working as a machine operator at the Georgia-Pacific paper mill, Gordon embarked on a life-changing journey to connect with his Sugpiaq Alaska Native identity and culture. He earned an MPA in Tribal Administration from the University of Washington in 1983 and moved to Kodiak, Alaska at the urging of his maternal uncle Karl Armstrong, Jr. In Alaska, Gordon began his involvement with tribal self-determination, artifact repatriation and cultural revitalization efforts that would extend over four decades and leave a lasting impact and legacy. He served six years as President and CEO of the Kodiak Area Native Association, completed a PhD in 1997 in Organizational and International Studies, and worked for the University of Alaska at Fairbanks for over 20 years, retiring in 2014 as an Associate Professor Emeritus of Rural Development. In all of Gordon’s many accomplishments, perhaps his greatest professional fulfillment came from mentoring students, who often kept in touch with him as they embarked on their own careers.

Gordon was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and brother. He is survived by his wife Flossie, son Greg (Janice) of Bellingham, WA, daughter Tracy (Craig) of Vallejo, CA, son Gordon, Jr. (Diana) of Anchorage, grandson Gordon, III of Anchorage, stepdaughter Chris (Jody) and step-grandchildren Jesse and Sarah of Anchorage, Skylar and Teryn of Colorado Springs, and brother Robert LaPlante of Arlington, WA.
Gordon often referred to Flossie as his “beautiful bride.” They married in 2014 and their time together was very special to him. As a father, he enjoyed spending time with his three adult children and traveled with them to Mexico in 2009 and Hawaii in 2012. He was overjoyed in 2017 when his grandson Gordy, III was born and was a doting grandfather (Aapa). Gordon loved to travel and was able to enjoy a final international trip to Iceland, France and Italy with Flossie and friends in 2019.
A celebration of life will be held at 3 p.m. on May 5th at the First Presbyterian Church of Anchorage; 616 W 10th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider a donation to one of the following organizations in memory of Gordon Pullar: Alutiiq Museum, 215 Mission Road, 1st Floor, Kodiak, AK 99615, alutiiqmuseum.org/give/donations; or Koniag Educational Foundation, 4141 B St., Suite 201, Anchorage, AK 99503, https:kef.networkforgood.com/projects/68300-supporting-the-next-generation.