Julie Catherine Varee

Mar 11, 1958 -

Apr 1, 2026

Julie Catherine Varee will be remembered for her joyful, dimpled smile, her wide almond eyes, her enviably long lashes and her easy, contagious laugh that lifted every room she entered.

She loved "Hamilton," "Harry Potter," a perfect plate of cacio e pepe pasta and a great glass of red wine. She delighted in the simple pleasures of scones, writing in her journal at Kaladi Brothers Coffee alongside her daughter, watching British detective shows with her husband, relishing every new handbag and cuddling with her beloved Corgi, Floyd.

Julie built lasting bonds throughout her distinguished career in philanthropy and strengthened every organization she touched. She served as donor relations director at the Anchorage Museum and senior development officer at the University of Alaska Anchorage. In her civic life, she sat on numerous boards, gave her time generously and was a fierce advocate for the arts.

Her most profound professional chapter came as the outreach archivist at the Anchorage Museum Atwood Resource Center – a role she pursued after earning her second master's degree from the University of Washington at 63. Julie showed that reinvention is possible, and she embraced it fearlessly.

The "Black Lives in Alaska: Journey, Justice, Joy" exhibition she created helped tell a fuller, more inclusive story of the state she called home for 39 years. "There's always room for more," she often said. In 2022, she was a recipient of the Diversity Award given by the Society of American Archivists.

Julie's legacy is her unwavering commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and the community she built around those values. Her greatest pride was raising her daughter, Madelyn, who carries forward the same compassion and commitment to inspiring the next generation.

She is survived by her husband, Ken Varee; daughter, Madelyn Joan; sister, Rebekah Sager; and a wide circle of loved ones.

A funeral mass for Julie will be held at St. Anthony's Catholic Church on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at 10 a.m. A celebration of Julie's life will be held Sunday, April 12, 2026, at 6 p.m., at the Anchorage Museum.

In place of flowers, please consider donations to the Anchorage Museum Archives and the Alaska Black Caucus.