FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson) 

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Alaskan Grilled in D.C. Over Climate Science
26 Mar 2024 14:51

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Gus Schumacher, the Anchorage Olympic cross-country skier, a [ ... ]

Faster Internet Speeds In Rural Schools OK'd
26 Mar 2024 13:53

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s rural schools are on track to access faster interne [ ... ]

Native Words Gathered In Environment Studies
26 Mar 2024 13:52

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska,  [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Police Blotter
26 Mar 2024 13:49

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]

March 26, 2024, Community Happenings
26 Mar 2024 13:48

Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m.  [ ... ]

Sac Roe Herring Fishery Opens in Hayward
25 Mar 2024 15:30

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The 2024 Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery got under [ ... ]

Projects on the Table For Cruise Tax Funds
25 Mar 2024 15:28

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]

Braves Take Second at State after Close Loss
25 Mar 2024 15:23

By Sentinel Staff
    Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]

City League Games Continue
25 Mar 2024 15:11

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

James C. Swainson Dies; Former Alaskan was 55

James Chase Swainson

James Chase Swainson, a former Alaskan with ties to Sitka, died Feb. 20 in Ellensburg, Washington, at the age of 55.

He was born  August 27, 1967, in Ellensburg to Susan and Jim Swainson. James split his time living between both parents, traveling between Alaskan towns to live with his dad Jimmy and stepmom Sparky in Petersburg, with his mother Susan and stepfather Tom Larson in Sitka, and later with his mother and stepfather Mark Goettlicher in Anchorage. 

After graduating from East High School in Anchorage, James moved to Seattle and lived in the University District and on Capitol Hill. During this time he fished during the summers in Alaska and lived a carefree lifestyle traveling around the country following the Grateful Dead. He moved to Portland, Oregon, and San Francisco, California, where he began focusing on his painting skills. James was an avid journal keeper and wrote almost every day in a diary. His journals were full of art and poetry detailing his daily life.

James met Janet Margot in Seattle and they married and moved to Brooklyn, New York, where he attended the Parsons School of Design. With Janet’s help James was able to overcome dyslexia and graduate as valedictorian of his class with a bachelor of fine arts. Living in New York City was a vibrant time in James’ life as he flourished in the New York art scene.

James and Janet traveled extensively through North Africa and Eastern Europe. On October 11, 2001, their daughter Samantha Exene was born. Samantha is currently studying journalism in Rome, Italy.

James lived in San Francisco during the 1989 earthquake and in New York City during 9-11.

Around 2004, James moved to Seattle where he later met Erin Carnahan and her three children, Madalyn, Joceline, and Devlin. On March 3, 2009, they welcomed baby girl Darby Ann Mary into the world.

The family took full advantage of the many activities that Seattle had to offer and enjoyed camping together, taking trips to Arizona, and long drives to explore new places.

James was close with his brothers and sisters – Jessica, Dylan, Shiloh and Jacob – taking special care to broaden his siblings’ horizons with big city adventures. He was always up for a walk no matter the weather or time of day.

James had the gift of gab and was full of stories. He appreciated tattoo art and had many himself. When his brother Jacob was 15 he visited James in Brooklyn and James gave him his first tattoo, making him the youngest kid in school with a tattoo. That was the kind of big brother he was – always ready to have fun and break some rules.

James was diagnosed with signet ring cell stomach cancer in February 2022 and on July 19, 2022, James married Erin at home with a beautiful outdoor wedding officiated by his Uncle Billy Swainson.

James outlived the doctor’s expectations by many months and on Feb. 20 he died at his home in Ellensburg, surrounded by his beloved books, art, cats and family.

He will always be remembered for his great laugh, his quirky sense of humor, his love of family and his joy of art, poetry and reading. He will be deeply missed.

James is survived by his parents Susan Goettlicher (Mark), Jimmy Swainson (Mary Ellen); step-parents Sparky Swainson and Tom Larson; brothers Dylan Swainson and Jacob Goettlicher (Cait); sisters Jessica Ieremia (Joe), Shiloh Swainson McNalley (Steve); his children Samantha, Madalyn, Joceline, Devlin, and Darby; his niece Jasmine Ieremia; his nephews Tausani Ieremia, Kai Swainson and Ethan Goettlicher; his grandmother Mary Ann Brain; and his many aunts, uncles and cousins.

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20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.


50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....

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