Recent Obituaries

Alan R. Munro, 88 years of age, passed away on Saturday May 8, 2021. Born to his parents, Duncan Ross and Ethel Munro. Alan attended Roslyn High School in New York and Shelburne High School in Vermont, when he met the love of his life, and wife of 70 years Constance Munro. They started their life together in Shelburne, Vermont and then on to New York, Tennessee and Juneau, Alaska where Alan retired as Director of the Alaska State Museum.

Alan was an accomplished artist, bird enthusiast, environmentalist, avid fishermen, hunter and outdoor explorer where he found life at its best hiking the perseverance and local area mountain trails making sure his paintbrush’s, paints and sketch pad was always in his backpack. Alan had great respect for the environment, and often took home injured birds to rehab and release them back into the wild, and was involved in Green Peace, helped organize the first Juneau Audubon Society and was a member of Earth Justice.

Alan always enjoyed a good sense of humor and loved to share his stories of life along with his wife after many great meals with family and dear friends. Alan had art exhibits in Louisville Kentucky, Nashville Tennessee, Washington DC, New York City New York, Seattle Washington, and Juneau-Douglas Alaska. His career in museum’s started in Shelburne Vermont where he worked with his father who took notice of his early interest and talent in the visual arts. He also worked at Fisk University in Nashville Tennessee, The Nashville Children’s Museum, The American Museum of Natural History, New York City, and the Juneau Alaska State Museum from 1971 to 1985 where he was curator and then director before his retirement. Alan was active in the Nashville Artist Guild, Initiated and implemented training at Fisk University in collaboration with David Driskell who designed curriculum for future POC Curators, he was active in the Civil Rights integration movement, and helped organize the Juneau NAMI (National Alliance for the Mentally ill) and was a past president.

Alan was instrumental in the grass roots effort of the 1st annual Juneau Folk Festival hosting meetings in the family living room, and was an advocate for speaking what he believed, marching in the 4th of July parade with a Freedom of Speech sign, and writing letters to the Juneau empire editor on issues he was passionate about.

Alan was adopted in the Tlingit Eagle Na’ein Kaagwaantaan Clan by Frances Smith, and a member of the Alaska Native Brotherhood Camp 2 of Juneau.

Alan was preceded in death by his father Duncan Ross and Mother, Ethel Munro, his older brother Judge William Munro his wife June, Son’s Alan Duncan, and Scott William Munro. He is survived by his wife Constance, his younger brother, David and wife Gerry; Children, Peter, Donald, daughter-in-law Melanie, Carol, Jean, Dave, Meg, and husband Jim, Grandchildren, Christopher, Sunshine, Jesse, Jason, Orawan (Bam), William Scott, Hunter, Mekayla, Rochelle, Jesse, Jared and Tauna, Great grandchildren; Halee, Koree, Idynn, Rovenna, Hallie, Sarah, Karter and Willeen, and many nieces, nephews and their children.

A retrospective art show and celebration of life will be arranged by the family, dates will be determined at a later date per venue availability. Cards and condolences can be mailed to P.O. Box 871541 Wasilla, Alaska 99687. Email inquiries to: [email protected]