Bob Chaney

Nov 14, 1950 -

Aug 29, 2026

The Alaska Native community lost a warrior this past week.

Bob Chaney, affectionately known as Dr. Bob, passed away peacefully in his home in Washington state on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026. Chaney, 75 years old, was surrounded by his loving family.

Dr. Bob worked with Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage, Alaska, and traveled the state to villages on their behalf for more than 25 years, helping Alaska communities deal with and move through trauma and abuse. Chaney identified with the native community as he had Cherokee ancestry and was both a champion and humanitarian for indigenous people.

Bob would say his work with Alaska Native people was his life blood and his family was his heart. He needed both to live a fulfilled life.

Bob faced his death head-on, not fading or hiding from it.

He said: "Embrace the dance with death. There is such beauty in this process."