Services Set Thursday For ‘Tuffy’ Robards, 61

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Tuesday, 01 October 2024 13:23

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Clifford Lance “Tuffy” Robards

Clifford Lance “Tuffy” Robards was born at Sitka Community Hospital  on January 25, 1963. He came into the world weighing in at 10 pounds 4 ounces, which held the record for the largest baby born in Sitka for six hours before a 12-pound, 11-ounce, boy took the title.
Tuffy was proud of his Tsimshian and Yugoslavian heritage. When his father, Clifford, took one look at his new son he exclaimed “Boy, he’s a Tuffy!” and the name stuck. So, for all of his 61 short years he was Tuffy and he loved his name.
He passed away from a brief illness on Sept. 22 at Alaska Regional Hospital in Anchorage.
Tuffy was loved very much by the whole family because he was fun to be around, very smart, hilarious, compassionate and infinitely loving.
Tuffy excelled in school from an early age; he loved to learn and to share what he learned with others. He graduated from Sitka High School in 1981, all while working part-time at the Rock Rack. He attended a consumer electronics show for the first time at age 13 and fell in love with the concept. Afterward he attended the University of Oregon in Eugene and got a job working at “Good Guys Stereo.” He finished his first year and decided that he would return home and open his own electronics business called Stereo North. And so at age 21 he opened his first store in Sitka, in his uncle Norman Staton Sr.’s Building 29.
Tuffy enjoyed sports from an early age, both watching and playing basketball and baseball, and was a record-holder on the first ever Baranof Barracudas team for the butterfly stroke.
He carried this love and passion for sports with him his whole life, especially baseball. Tuffy played T-ball, Little League, Big League baseball, summer softball and mud ball. He was a proud member of the Moose and ANB teams as a kid, and then as an adult he began his own softball and basketball teams for Stereo North. He loved the spirit of the game and got to play with all of his friends. Flying all over the state of Alaska and to Whitehorse, winning championships, all with his friends by his side. He was a true winner with a heart of gold sharing in that joy with all the people he loved.
Tuffy was loved by all, a friend to everyone he met, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him, especially his family, who will hold him with reverence in memory for the wonderful, kind-spirited man he was.
He was preceded in death by his father, Clifford G. Robards; grandparents; aunt and uncle Ethel and Norman Staton; cousin Ryan Staton; aunts Jaqueline Guzialek, Pauline Williams, and Angelina Salvato; and his forever companion Akon.
He is survived by his mother Shirley Robards; close cousins Candi Barger, Heath Barger, Gerri Chambers, Holly Chambers, Robert Leighton (Terry, Caitlin, Garrett), Norman Staton Jr. (Donna), Katie Staton and Tess Staton; pet Luigi; and many other family members and friends.
A viewing is scheduled 6 to 7:30 p.m. tonight, Oct. 2, at Prewitt Funeral Home.

Services will be held 1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church. A celebration of his life will follow 2-6 p.m. at Harrigan Centennial Hall.
Condolences may be sent to Shirley Robards at 342 Lincoln Street.
Donations may be made to a favorite church or charity.
“As Tuffy would say to each and every one of us, ‘May Jesus bless you,’” his family said. “We thank you all for the phone calls, emails, cards, flowers and stopping in Stereo North to let us know how much Tuffy was loved, not only by his family and friends but the community of Sitka.”

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