Services Scheduled For Fisherman Tad Fujioka

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Category: Obituaries

Created on Friday, 10 January 2025 14:10

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Tad J. Fujioka

Tad J. Fujioka was born on August 31, 1974, in Tacoma, Washington, to Carol and Jeff Fujioka, and died October 30, 2024, in Sitka.
Shortly after Tad was born, the family moved to Juneau, where Tad began to put down deep roots in Alaska. Even as a preschooler, he aspired to be a commercial fisherman, and the family spent lots of time catching and studying fish. After spending as much time as possible outdoors catching fish and hunting ducks, he graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1993. Tad then earned a BS degree in engineering from the California Institute of Technology, where he met Sara Beaber, love of his life from whom he was inseparable for the next 30 years of their Alaska adventures.
Tad returned to Alaska as quickly as possible after college (taking his exams early so he could go home sooner) and started work at the City and Borough of Juneau. After Sara finished school and landed a job in Sitka, Tad immediately joined her to start their Alaska life together. They were married in 2003 at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Sitka.
Tad worked for O’Neill Surveying and Engineering and the City and Borough of Sitka for several years before finally realizing his dream of commercial fishing on his own boats: the F/V Silver Point, F/V Merlin, and F/V Sakura. He was happiest on the water, catching fish, preferably with family on board.
Tad served on numerous fishing boards and committees, including as current board chairman of the Seafood Producers Cooperative and board member of the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust, as well as long-time member of the Sitka Alaska Department of Fish and Game Advisory Committee. He formerly served on the board of directors for the Alaska Trollers Association and Chum Trollers Association.
His data analysis and articulate voice advocating for fish, fisheries, and fishermen made a great positive impact in fish policy and management. Tad also volunteered with Sitka 4-H teaching youth to harvest wild food.
Most important in Tad’s life was his family. He shaped his fishing life around spending time with family so he and Sara could raise their daughters Alexandra and Mari. He chose his fisheries and boats so he could fish day trips and return to his family, taking them out to share the wonders of the ocean, forest, and beaches as often as possible. Tad loved having his girls deckhand and leading his family in harvesting and sharing commercial, sport, and subsistence foods with people throughout Sitka and across the state. Tad’s guiding principles were to love abundantly, share generously, and steward wisely, and he raised his family to know and live these.
Tad is survived by his wife Sara and daughters Alexandra and Mari of Sitka; parents Jeff and Carol Fujioka of Juneau; sister Kerry (Andrew) Fujioka Hill of Redmond, Washington; mother-in-law Pat Beaber of Lawrenceville, New Jersey; siblings-in-law Mary (Jack) Hoffman of Fieldsboro, New Jersey, Elisabeth Beaber (Jed Fowler) of Seattle, Washington, and Aaron (Eleanor) Beaber of St. Paul, Minnesota; nephew Matthew Hoffman; nieces Emma Hoffman, Chelsea and Madeline Hill, Helen and Irene Beaber; aunts Sarajean Fujioka (Tim Maguire), Barbara (Roger) Edwards, Marilyn Hinds, Denise Sasaki, and Yori Sasaki; uncles John Fujioka and Mark Sasaki; and many cousins and dear friends.
A funeral service will be held 1 p.m. Saturday, January 18, at St. Peter’s by-the-Sea Episcopal Church in Sitka, followed by a reception at Centennial Hall.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Tad Fujioka Memorial Scholarship at https://alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/create/fund?funit_id=13183 or to the Alaska Sustainable Fisheries Trust at PO Box 2106, Sitka, AK 99835.

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