James "Jim" Jay Jordan
Jun 12, 1947 -
Jun 14, 2026
James "Jim" Jay Jordan, 79, passed away peacefully on June 14, 2026, at Brookdale Oro Valley, Ariz. Jim and his wife Karen lived many years in Anchorage, Alaska, and after retiring spent their winters in Arizona. Jim will be deeply missed by all who knew him, and his memory will live on long in the hearts of family and friends.
He suffered from Alzheimer's, congestive heart failure and a-fib during his final year, but previously lived a full, fun life, even visiting Japan in March 2025. Jim was the most kind and loving person who valued his family and wonderful friends who were scattered all over the world.
There will be a Celebration of Jim's Life on July 30, 2026, at the Anchorage Golf Course. In fall 2026, there will be other gatherings to remember Jim in Minnesota and Arizona. Contact the family for details.
Jim grew up in Hibbing, Minn., playing baseball and other sports. He attended Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., where he was a pitcher on the baseball team; that is also where he met and, in 1969, married his wife Karen Jordan. He graduated with a degree in economics and went on to work in the Actuarial Department for Mutual Service Insurance Company in St. Paul.
In 1979, Jim and Karen decided to move to Alaska after visiting Jim's uncle Rod who had homesteaded there in the 1950s. They drove to Alaska camping along the way, with all of their worldly goods in the back of their truck. Jim went to work for the Division of Insurance for the State of Alaska, eventually becoming Director. After leaving the Division of Insurance, Jim ran a successful insurance consulting practice in Alaska.
In 1996, Jim joined the Alaska State Medical Association (ASMA) as Executive Director and worked there until his retirement in 2012. He served on many American Medical Association (AMA) committees, including chairing the AMA Litigation Center focused on supporting medical associations around the country in fighting for physician's rights. He also served on the boards of the Alaska Electronic Health Record Alliance, and he developed the coalition of Alaskans for Access to Health Care. During his time with ASMA, Jim served as a board member of the Medical Indemnity Exchange of California, which became the leading medical malpractice carrier in Alaska. In 2012, he was awarded the American Medical Association Medical Executive Lifetime Achievement Award.
Jim loved alpine ski racing with the Alyeska Masters Ski Club, golfing, fishing, pheasant hunting, reading and traveling. Jim and Karen enjoyed going to their wilderness cabin north of Talkeetna on the Alaska Railroad and their "fishing" cabin near Ninilchik, Alaska. They had many wonderful years traveling the world and having adventure vacations with friends, such as cross-country skiing across Denali National Park, rafting down the Grand Canyon and several years skiing in St. Anton, Austria. Jim also served on the Friends of Library Board and the Alyeska Ski Club Board.
Jim is preceded in death by his father and mother, Ted and Marilyn Jordan; and younger brother, Michael "Mike" Jordan. He is survived by his wife, Karen Jordan; brother, Jay Jordan (Vicky); sisters-in-law, Therese Jordan, Ann McCarthy and Mary McCarthy; nephews, Jeremy Jordan (Paula), Jim Jordan and Brandon Jordan; niece, Jola Zeller; grand-nieces, Gigi Jordan and Kaya Gervino; and grand-nephew, Jayden Grushka-Hicks.
Memorial donations may be made in Jim's name to Alzheimer's Resource of Alaska or Alaska Public Media.
