Daniel George Moreno Jr., 57, of Sitka, passed away on Feb. 9, 2012, due to medical complications, with his wife, family and friends at his side.
A cultural memorial will be held 6 p.m. tonight at Sheet’ka Kwaan Naa Kahidi. He will lie in state there until Tuesday morning, when he will be flown to Ketchikan for cremation.
Dan was born to Daniel and Nancy (Fulton) Moreno on May 23, 1954, in Juneau. The family moved to Sitka in 1967 and made it their home.
Dan graduated from Sitka High School in 1973 and received his bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Puget Sound. On Dec. 18, 1993, he married Sherry, his soul mate, the woman he would spend the rest of his life with.
Dan is survived by his loving wife of 18 years Sherry, Sitka; his mother, Nancy Moreno of Juneau; sisters, Sharon and Janet, both of Juneau; brothers, Matthew of Juneau and Paul T. (Jamie), of Grants Pass, Ore.
His sons are Robert of Seattle, Anthony of Sitka, Thomas (Alysha) of Colorado, and Jeffrey, Juneau; and his daughters are Rolonda (Kevin), of Klamath Falls, Ore., Michelle of Pasco, Wash., Calli of Pasco, and Danielle (Chuck) and Teresa, both of Sitka.
Grandchildren are: Justin of Klamath Falls; Miranda of Pasco; Kyla and Keith, both of Wasilla; Baby Danny and Nova Marie, both of Sitka; Amara Grace of Colorado; and Baby E.J. of Sitka.
His great-grandchildren are Jaden and Spencer, both of Klamath Falls.
Also surviving are uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces and cousins, so many throughout Alaska and the nation, and so, so many best friends and co-workers.
Dan was preceded in death by his father, Dan Moreno Sr.; uncle, Phillip Moreno Sr.; aunts Julie Huff and Isabel Sodeberg; and sisters Karen Mae and Teresa Ann.
Dan’s Tlingit names were Kaataan and Yeisgitch. He was of the Chaak Moiety, Kaagwaantaan Clan and came from the Chaa kudi Hit. He was a grandchild of the L’uknax.adi.
Dan was a passionate man. Love of family was first and foremost in his life. He was blessed with the love of his life, Sherry. Dan and Sherry were the foundation of their family, and their children looked up to them for guidance and support. He shared unconditional love for his children. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the highlights of his life. They kept him young and vibrant. He loved playing with them every moment he could. The passion he shared with his wife and family was the heart of who Dan was.
He also had a passion in life for his culture and the traditions. He made sure his family, friends and elders received fish, deer and herring eggs. He embraced the opportunity to share his knowledge of culture and traditions with the younger generations. Dan was an avid Kaagwaantaan dancer with both Sitka and Juneau during Celebration.
Dan was involved with many hobbies and the community. He loved playing softball, basketball and golf. He also enjoyed decorating their home for the holidays. He was always there to give a helping hand when someone in the community needed it, whether it was cooking, a shoulder to cry on, advice, or helping with someone’s boat or car. Dan was there.
He cared deeply about improving, and advancing, transportation within the Alaska Native community through Tribal governments. Over the past few decades he worked with the Sitka Tribe of Alaska, the Eastern Washington Tribal Technical Assistance Program, and the Bureau of Indian Affairs Roads Program, was Chairman of the Board of Commissioners for Baranof Island Housing Authority and was a consultant for Tribes in Alaska with their Indian Reservation Roads programs.
In 2006 Dan became self-employed as a Tribal transportation consultant. He offered Tribal transportation training and technical assistance, strategic planning and multi-agency coordination for Tribes throughout Alaska and the nation.
He was a shareholder of Shee Atika Inc., Sealaska Corp. and Sitka Tribe of Alaska; was enrolled as a Tribal Citizen; was a member of Alaska Native Brotherhood Sitka Camp #1; Central Central Council of Tlingit & Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska enrolled Tribal Citizen; and a board member of the Alaska Tribal Transportation Work Group.
Traveling all over Alaska and the nation for work and pleasure with his wife was an enjoyment for him.
Dan will be deeply missed by everyone. “We all suffer a great loss,” his family writes “He was very much a people person, making friends throughout Alaska and the nation.”
Pallbearers are Anthony Moreno, Thomas Moreno, Glen Howard Jr., Josh Arnold, Charlie Bacon, Chuck Miller and Chad Titell.
Honorary pallbearers are Herman Davis, John Duncan Sr., Clarence Jackson, Phil Nielsen, Reginald Rodriguez, Les Jensen, John Littlefield, John Martin, Robert Brookshire, Kevin Widenmeyer, Paul B. Moreno, Walter Smith, Ron Waldron, Hanibal Eala, Art, George and Edwin Chappell, John Vallejo, Mick Dimond, Rick Halm, Scott Lowry, David “Jeff” Harmon and Jeffery Roberts.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to: Sherry Moreno, 101 Naomi Kanosh Lane, Sitka, Alaska 99835.