Daily Sitka Sentinel

Robert Stephen McGraw

 

Robert Stephen McGraw

Lifelong Sitka resident Robert Stephen McGraw passed away peacefully on April 23, surrounded by his family and love.

He had been diagnosed earlier this year with cancer, and was in the Alaska  Native Medical Center in Anchorage at the time of his death. He was 72.

He was born Oct. 20, 1944, in Everett, Wash., the son of Marie Cecelia (Trierschield) and Dormand Clare McGraw Sr. The family moved to Sitka soon after his birth. He attended Sitka schools, graduating from Sitka High in 1963. He and classmate Toni Helland were married Dec. 19, 1964.

Rob lived an active, full life. He commercial fished with his great-uncle, Charlie Peterson, and his uncle Chuck Trierschield. He also was a heavy equipment operator, a firefighter, a commercial truck driver, and an Alaska Public Safety Academy employee.

Along with fishing, Rob enjoyed boating and spending quality time with his family. Soft-spoken, he was a loving husband, father, grandfather, son and friend. “He will be dearly missed,” his family said.

Rob was preceded in death by his father, Dormand Clare McGraw Sr. and a brother, Michael McGraw.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Toni; son Nicholas McGraw (fiance Jen and son Logan); daughter Jenna McGraw; and grandsons Stephen McGraw and Shaun McGraw, all of Sitka.

His mother, Marie McGraw, of Lebnon, Ore.; brothers Dormand McGraw and wife Kathy, Chuck McGraw and wife Nancy and Jon McGraw and wife Cindy, all of Sitka; and a sister, Michele Burd, and her husband Tim of Lebanon, Ore., also survive.

 

The family suggests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Sitka Volunteer Fire Department.