John Lee Aho

Feb 12, 1939 -

Jul 19, 2023

John Aho, age 84, a third generation Alaskan, died on July 19, 2023, from complications from a fall. A Celebration of Life will be held Aug. 10, 2023, at 2 p.m. at the Anchorage Senior Center.

He was born on Feb. 12, 1939, in the original Anchorage Railroad Hospital. John's father, Toivo Aho, who was one of the first generation of Alaska bush pilots, was born in Old Knik, across Cook Inlet from Anchorage, in 1918. John's mother, Evelyn, arrived in Anchorage with her parents in 1937.

John graduated from West High in 1957, and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks and Northrup Aeronautical Institute before joining the United States Army, where he trained as a nuclear weapons assembler. John traveled throughout the world on nuclear proficiency inspection teams, including a tour of duty in Korea.

He returned to Alaska in 1962, and attended the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He married Soozie Jackson, and headed off again for an 18-month trip to Europe and Northern Africa. Upon returning John finished his Bachelor of Science degree, and added master's and doctorate degrees in aeronautical and astronautical engineering from Cornell University.

As an assistant professor at the Rose-Hulman Institute for Technology in Indiana, for three years, John returned to Anchorage to finish his career at the engineering firm CH2MHill for the next 33 years as Principal Project Manager and Vice-President.

John married JoAnne Baker in 1984, and both were blessed with a daughter, Jessica Aho.

He loved telling jokes, had a witty sense of humor and was true to his word to family, friends and clients.

John was also a highly-respected expert in earthquake engineering and risk mitigation. He was past Chairs of the Municipality of Anchorage Geotechnical Advisory Commission and the State of Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission. He served on the National Board of Directors for the Earthquake Engineering Research Institute. John was the founding chair of the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA) Engineering School Advisory Board, and received numerous engineering awards and an Honorary Doctorate of Science degree from UAA.

In retirement, John enjoyed watercolor painting, reading, poker tournaments and travel. His golfing buddies are also fully aware that John could throw a mean golf club when the situation arose. John was active with the Pioneers of Alaska and was the Fur Rendevous Regent King in 2020-2022. He had a love for and gift with animals.

John is survived by his wife, JoAnne; daughter, Jessica; sisters, Judy and Tina; half-brother, Timothy; stepbrother, Wayne; stepsister, Sandy; lifelong friend, Raymond Nesbett; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Toivo; mother, Evelyn; maternal grandparents, Dallas and Elenore Bowen; paternal grandparents, Ellen McGettigan and John Aho; brothers, Michael and Chris; sisters, Joann and Terry; half-sister, Sue; and stepbrothers, LeRoy and Thomas.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the University of Alaska Anchorage Foundation, marked for use in the School of Engineering, or to any animal rescue organization.