Daily Sitka Sentinel

Bill Denkinger

In commemoration of the many years Bill Denkinger dedicated his life to educating young people, especially those at Mt. Edgecumbe High School, his former teachers and family honored his life with a dinner at the Channel Club on April 29, at which they shared special memories.

Bill took an active role in the 1985 reopening of Mt. Edgecumbe High School as its first academic principal. He spent the next 23 years at the state of Alaska-operated boarding high school, as academic and residential principals, teacher and at its helm as superintendent for five years until his retirement in 2008 for medical reasons.

An innovative and creative leader, Bill was involved in numerous “cutting edge” programs, all aimed at helping students realize their “sky’s the limit” potential and the way to achieve their dreams by building the foundation to success. Weekly “Edgecumbe Family Night” Dinner, High and Low Ropes Courses, Edgecamp and Continuous Improvement are just a few of the programs he had a hand in creating that helped build that foundation. He also was active in promoting after-school programs aimed at helping students make healthy life choices.

Bill was remembered as being a kind, patient, thoughtful man who put in hundreds of extra hours before and after school and on weekends helping turn Mt. Edgecumbe into a highly successful school. His unending energy and dedication helped many students achieve their dreams of becoming highly productive citizens. For Bill, it was always about what was best for the students, whom he thought of as his clients. He took pride in knowing each student’s name, their siblings attending the school and their home town.

During those first years of the school’s opening in a rundown WWII Naval Air Base, Bill was not only the academic principal, but also taught a math class.  Bill loved math, and especially enjoyed being in the classroom working with students on a more personal level.  He delighted in witnessing each student’s “aha” moment, the moment they “got it.”

Bill also spent a couple summers traveling throughout Alaska for Carnegie Learning, teaching teachers how to teach algebra to students who “didn’t get it.”

In all those years at the school, Bill never missed a school activity or a game unless he was out of town.  As a testament to his efforts and dedication, he was recognized as the Alaska and National Principal of the Year, receiving this presidential sponsored award in Washington, D.C.

Bill passed away gently after a stoic eight-year battle (after diagnosis) with stage 4, cancer; yet in the minds of his family, friends, colleagues and students, his life and accomplishments continue to live. The family honored Bill’s wishes for a private family graveside service and he was lain to rest in the family plot in Iowa, although he considered Sitka home. He was 72.

Deeply loved by his entire family he will be forever missed, especially by his wife, Carol, of over 50 years.  Bill and Carol renewed their wedding vows on their 50th anniversary complete with two ring bearers, a flower girl and tossing of Carol’s bouquet. This very special, elegant celebration was hosted by their four children Crystal, Troy, Todd and Brent and spouses, Tara and Vickie, at Troy’s and Vickie’s waterfront residence in Sitka. It was very important to Bill to celebrate their Golden Anniversary; he did not want to miss it and hung in there for it.

He also is survived by eight fantastic grandchildren, Ky, Kym, Kody, Kristina, Hailey, Presley, Baylor and Adriana, and one awesome great-grandson, Kaiden.

“We were incredibly blessed and honored to have had him at the helm of our family and to call him, husband, Sweet William, dad, pops, and Grandpa Bo,” his family wrote. 

A Bill Denkinger Memorial Scholarship is in the process of being set up in his honor and commitment to education. Contributions to this scholarship may be sent to: 1101 Edgecumbe Drive, Sitka.