Noel Dean Rea
Mar 30, 1967 -
Jul 23, 2026
Noel Rea died on July 23, 2026, from cancer, at the age of 59, a beloved husband, father, brother and friend. Noel faced his cancer battle quietly and courageously, never allowing it to impede time with loved ones or the work that gave his life purpose.
Noel passed away in Perth, Scotland, while fulfilling his lifelong dream of visiting his mother's ancestral homeland with his wife Mari and children, Henry, Sarah, Olivia and Samantha. He was surrounded by his wife and children in a circle of love as he took his final breath.
Noel was born on March 30, 1967, in Denver, Colo., the youngest son of Shirley and Robert Rea. He grew up in rural Colorado alongside his sister Holly and brother George. He spent his childhood playing outdoors with his pets, playing basketball for hours on end, and accompanying his mother and sister to musical rehearsals. Noel attended Douglas County High School and graduated from Colorado State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology, and earned a Master of Business Administration in healthcare from Alaska Pacific University. He was an exuberant youth, and his lifelong friends have stories of misadventures and his mischievous sense of humor. As a young man, he worked as a bouncer, a shop boy in a garage and laid sod in the sweltering heat for Green Valley Turf, a job that convinced him he would rather work in healthcare. Noel arrived in Alaska in the early 1990s, where his first professional jobs included work as a men's bereavement counselor and in the HIV program at the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center (ANHC). He was ANHC's first employee to set up and work on a computer.
Noel built an extraordinary career as a healthcare leader. He served as CEO or interim CEO for many Alaska facilities, including Wrangell Medical Center, SEARHC Mt. Edgecumbe Hospital, Prestige Care, Cordova Community Medical Center, South Peninsula Hospital and Alaska Psychiatric Institute. He loved his current work for Rise Wellness at the Ketchikan Indian Community. He served on many boards and groups over the years that aimed to improve life for Alaskans, such as serving as a Big Brother for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Fairview Community Council, the Anchorage Neighborhood Health Center Board, Chief Shakes Restoration Advisory Committee, Housing and Homeless Commission and as a Board member for Anchorage Project Access. A gifted strategist, he spent many hours offering guidance and professional mentorship to friends navigating personal or professional challenges.
Above all else, Noel's greatest joy was his family. He and Mari were joyfully married for 16 years, often laughing that life together was "never boring," having unexpected adventures in various rural communities. Noel especially loved the family home on East Tree Drive and relished the simple joy of sharing coffee with family in the kitchen. Noel loved each of his four children with his whole heart, and often remarked that being their dad was his greatest achievement. They shared many inside jokes, played songs for each other and spent many hours of their lives in laughter, silly antics and love. Noel was also a devoted brother, uncle and friend. His wisdom, humor and compassionate heart will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Noel is survived by his beloved wife, Mari; son, Henry; daughters, Sarah, Olivia and Samantha; siblings, Holly Rea Leigh, Robert Rea, Timothy Rea and George Groom; stepmother, Betty Rea; in-laws, James and Taeko Selle; former wife, Lisa Rea; and cherished nieces and nephews, including Danielle Drake, Brayden Drake and Nicole Morales. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Rea; and mother, Shirley Rea.
A celebration of life will take place on Aug. 29, 2026, at 2 p.m., at St. John United Methodist Church in Anchorage. In lieu of flowers, the family invites you to make a donation in Noel's memory to Anchorage Project Access.
