Joseph Coolidge Sr.

Apr 22, 1941 -

Aug 5, 2021

Mr. Joseph Aurralria Coolidge Sr., born to Calvin K. Coolidge and Sophie K. (Mezak) on April 22, 1941, in a remote subsistence campsite named Quuyacaur, translated as "the narrow part of the river."

Joe, aka "Aurralria," named after his paternal grandfather, died at the age of 80, on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2021, at 1:40 p.m. He had a peaceful death in Providence Alaska Medical Center in Anchorage, due to COVID-19, only his sister Molly and his son Joe were present.

Joe grew up in Nunapitchuk, Alaska, and loved to tease his first cousins, singing them a rendition of The Beatle's tune "Hey Uquvv" (Hey Jude). He also taught his family guitar by allowing them to follow along while playing The Beatles tunes. Being self-taught, he played several instruments by ear.

Joe left the village to attend high school at Mt. Edgecumbe, Alaska, where he graduated.

While serving in the National Guard in the mid-60s, Joe studied electronics, which led him to several teaching jobs starting with work in Aleknagik, Alaska, as an elementary teacher. Joe happened to be his youngest sister's only high school Yup'ik teacher.

In the 70s, in Bethel, Alaska, he was the Yup'ik voice broadcasting news on the KYUK broadcasting station. He worked as a professor in the Kuskokwim Community College teaching the Yup'ik language to college students and contributed in writing the first published Yup'ik dictionary.

"He was a natural linguist who was eager to learn as much as he can to teach his heritage language," said Walkie Charles, professor and director of the Alaska Native Language Center at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

The love of music stayed in his life as he recorded gospel tunes with Gusty Chythlook and strummed as a backup guitar player for the Joe Paul and Peter Twitchell albums. Joe was well known for singing "In My Father's House" which became his signature song.

A visitation service was held at Kehl's Funeral Home at 1 p.m., on Aug. 11, 2021. Due to COVID-19 mandates, a funeral service inside a church building is not scheduled. Moravian Bishop Frank Chingliaq offered any help and was scheduled to officiate the service.

Joe is preceded in death by his two younger brothers, Charles Angassaq Coolidge and David Coolidge; parents, Calvin and Sophie Coolidge; daughter, Wilma Karen Coolidge.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Deborah Coolidge; sons, Joseph Coolidge Jr. and Darren Coolidge; grandchildren, Christopher Coolidge (Brittany Nelson), Helena Coolidge, Freddy Coolidge and Autumn Coolidge; great-grandson, Sheldon Coolidge; sisters, Lucy (Jerry) Daniels, Alice (Felix) Hess, Sophia Larson, Nan Julie Coolidge, Sally (Pat) Samson, Mollyanne (Jerry) Rapoza; and brothers, Arthur and John Coolidge.

Donations: Contact Juli Coolidge via email, Donation4JoeCool@gmail.com.