Douglas John Serdahely

Jun 1, 1946 -

May 13, 2023

Doug Serdahely, 76, passed away of natural causes on May 13, 2023, at Providence Hospital, in Anchorage, Alaska.

Doug came into the world earlier than expected while his parents were on a fishing trip in northern Wisconsin. He grew up in Wauwatosa, Wis., a suburb of Milwaukee, and spent summers near lakes fishing and recreating with family and friends. As a teenager, he enjoyed sports but was sidelined due to open chest surgery during his freshman year. Doug played center for West Wauwatosa High football team and basketball, except during his senior year, when the entire basketball team quit due to a disagreement with the coach and joined the boys volleyball team. They became the 1964 state champions.

As a young man, Doug had two passions: his education and the beloved red Rocket 88 sports car that he shared with his brother Bill. He graduated at the top of his class and was offered many college scholarships, he decided it was more practical being closer to home, and accepted the offer from Northwestern University.

At NU, he studied and majored in political science and German and, as Doug would have it, graduated with highest honors. Just prior to graduation, his last quarter, he put his idealistic views into action and became a volunteer for the 1968 Democratic presidential candidate, Senator Eugene McCarthy. Doug, like many of his generation, was adamantly opposed to the continuation of the Vietnam War, and Senator McCarthy was the candidate to back due to his anti-Vietnam platform. But, when things shifted in the Democratic Party, and Senator Robert F. Kennedy announced his candidacy, Doug jumped over to his campaign and due to his "clean-cut" look, he was chosen to do special assignments. Apparently the rest were long-haired hippies. Doug's first assignment was to become the "town crier" ahead of Kennedy's campaign stop in Gary, Ind. He drove a car with a massive speaker on the top announcing the upcoming campaign rally in Gary. Doug was then tasked to drive the convertible press car next to RFK's but, due to Kennedy's car breaking down, Doug and his car were confiscated and Doug became RFK's driver. Slowly driving through thousands of people without a major accident was a miracle. RFK was being held by bodyguards for safety while people were taking anything off his person, including cufflinks. Doug returned back to graduate from NU, just shy of the tragic assassination of RFK in Los Angeles, Calif.

Doug went to Harvard University for his law education and Doctor of Jurisprudence degree. He was recruited, in 1972, by Alaska Supreme Court Justice Jay Rabinowitz to clerk for the Alaska Supreme Court, specifically Chief Justice George Boney. Justice Boney died later that summer and Doug clerked for Justice James Fitzgerald, who later became a close friend as well as mentor to Doug. After his clerkship, Doug moved to Washington, D.C., and joined the Kirkland & Ellis law firm, it was a perfect time to be in D.C. as a poly-sci enthusiast - Watergate was the headline.

After Doug returned to Alaska in 1975, he joined several law firms: Robert Libby, and Birch, Horton, Bittner, and then decided to put his hat in the ring for a seat on the Alaska Superior Court. It took more than one try, but was finally successful and was sworn in February 1981, as the second youngest judge appointed to the Alaska Supreme Court at that time. Doug became presiding judge of the Superior Court during his nine years on the bench. As a judge, he was admired for his keen intelligence and fair-minded application of the law and was always prepared. He resigned from the bench and went back to private practice hoping to practice complex civil litigation. After taking a few months off for travel, he returned to see the news headlines about the Exxon Valdez spill. The Seattle-based Bogle & Gates law firm was hired by Exxon - later ExxonMobil - and Doug was hired by Bogle to work with Exxon and participated as key outside counsel. This took over a decade to resolve in both the state and federal courts. Doug represented other large companies and was key in the negotiations of the Safeway/Carrs merger. He was liaison counsel for the Bristol Bay price-fixing case, which required mature and measured leadership as he managed to organize and keep more than two dozen lawyers in line. Many have commented that Doug was gracious even in the high-stressed environment of practicing law. He thought he had about as perfect career as possible. He loved the constitution and the laws that interpreted it and was eager to share his knowledge and mentor law associates. He also went through challenging law firm shake-ups: Bogle & Gates, Patton-Boggs, Holland & Knight. Through it all, Doug developed and maintained good friendships with his clients up to his passing.

Doug's recreational passion was sailing, and he and a crew of friends sailed the Affirmance all through Prince William Sound and later in Resurrection Bay. He and wife, Melody, decided to sell the Affirmance and use the funds to bareboat charter throughout the world. Doug had already experienced sailing through the Bahamas, Mexico, Belize, and Tonga with friends, and he and Melody added the Pacific Northwest and most of the Caribbean: BVIs, French West Indies, and the Windward Islands. The "Bad Dog Yacht Club" originated when they and their east coast sailing buddies met in Greece to sail the Dodecanese Islands, and in Tahiti from Raiatea to Bora Bora. All crew members felt safe when sailing with Doug and he was always prepared with charts and gear. But, the gimbaled-grill challenges were epic. One crewmate prepared the steaks for dinner by sewing piano wire through them so they would not go overboard.

Fall and winter were reserved for Northwestern and Green Bay Packer football, and summer for Mariners baseball, usually with a glass of chardonnay and a Labrador retriever at his side.

Doug leaves his wife of 30 years, Melody; two brothers, Dr. William Serdahely and Dr. Jeff Serdahely (MaryBeth); two brothers-in-law, Joe and Cole Milliken; and many nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews and great-nephews. He is preceded in death by brother-in-law, Scott Milliken; and canine kids, Pooper, Kodiak Bear, Charlie, Beanie, Brandi, Mandy and Cricket.

A small service is planned with close relatives. A tribute will be formed to memorialize Doug's love of the law. Condolences can be sent to P.O. Box 190809, Anchorage, AK 99519; or legacy.com.