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Barry Alan MacAlpine
September 17, 1936 - June 3, 2007 Barry MacAlpine, a "Pioneer Musher" of the 1973 Iditarod, died in a fire at his cabin in the Chugiak-Birchwood area on June 3, 2007 6/9/07 Barry Alan MacAlpine was born in Springfield, Mass. on September 17, 1936, the first son of Victoria Joseph MacAlpine and Arthur Winslow MacAlpine. He attended public schools in Springfield and graduated from Classical High School where he was an exceptional athlete, posting several Massachusetts State track and field records. He briefly attended Howard University before joining the Air Force, eventually stationed at Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage, Alaska, in 1956. Barry made his home in Alaska, primarily in the Chugiak area. During his early years in the state, Barry worked as a jazz musician playing at clubs around Anchorage. He also worked as a draftsman at District Engineers, and a surveyor for BLM at many sites around Alaska including Amchitka and the Snettisham Dam. In 1963 he attended UAF for training as an electronic technician. At the time of his death he was employed at Anchorage Printing where he had worked for approximately 20 years. In his later years he lived alone in Birchwood, working in Anchorage and devoting himself to the care and training of his sled dogs, many of which he adopted from around the area. His chief interests, in addition to his dogs were his music, playing chess, reading and all things mathematical. Barry is survived by his former wife, Donna Miller MacAlpine, of McGrath, whom he married in Anchorage in 1961, and by their four children Robin of Hyattsville, MD, Kenneth of Pittsfield, MA, Norman of McGrath and Heather of Anchorage, and by 13 grandchildren. Four brothers, two sisters, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews on the East coast also survive him. His mother, Victoria (MacAlpine) Miller, who made many visits to Alaska, passed away last year in Springfield. top of page | home | feedback | search |
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