It’s been wonderful to see all the well-deserved accolades being printed for Vic Fischer. I had the pleasure of sitting next to him recently at a celebration of the life of Malcolm Roberts, with whom Vic, Wally Hickel, and many others worked together in the organization Backbone to stand against the fraudulent attempt to take Alaska’s gas pipeline through Canada. Remember “My way is the highway,” along with co-conspirator Bill Allen of Veco?
As we left the event for Malcolm, I took Vic in his wheelchair down a somewhat treacherous and steep driveway. Arriving at the car, I picked him up and put him in the back seat, and he couldn’t have weighed more than 80 pounds. He just smiled.
Classic Vic.
Although his body was failing him, his mind was still alive. We discussed his work with Russia at a time when the Cold War was in full swing. Even though Russia was communist at the time, and Vic’s family had suffered under their rule, he nevertheless led many of the efforts to promote cooperation between the people of Russia and the people of Alaska. Because it was good for Alaska. That was Vic’s true North Star.
We discussed the current efforts to cooperate on safe shipping on the Northern Sea Route, fisheries research and management, melting permafrost, and climate change. Vic regretted the current restrictions on those efforts due to the unfortunate situation in Ukraine.
For those of us for whom there are a lot more yesterdays than tomorrows, Vic’s life was an inspiration. As they age, some people want to slow down and retire. Others realize the limited time they have and work even harder before their time is up.
Vic was in this second group, all the way up to his passing at 99 years old. He is an inspiration to all Alaskans, young and old.
— Paul Fuhs
Anchorage
Have something on your mind? Send to letters@adn.com or click here to submit via any web browser. Letters under 200 words have the best chance of being published. Writers should disclose any personal or professional connections with the subjects of their letters. Letters are edited for accuracy, clarity and length.