Ben Avaan Stevens

Mar 18, 1959 -

Oct 13, 2022

Ben Avaan Stevens was born on March 18, 1959, two months after Alaska achieved statehood. His life and career were intertwined with the growth of the young state, and his passion for and contributions to Alaska's development were substantial. Though Ben was a man of many accomplishments, he was guided by a single compass: This was the love and devotion he had for his wife Elizabeth and his children Susan, Ben Jr., Augie and Ted.

The youngest son of Ted Stevens and Ann Cherrington Stevens, Ben spent his formative years in Alaska and Washington, D.C., where he learned the value of public service and volunteerism from his parents.

At 19 years old, following the tragic loss of his beloved mother Ann, Ben went to work on a crab boat in the Bering Sea. Hired as a deck hand and cook, he would later become Captain and go on to spend a significant part of his life on the ocean working in the fishing and fuel transportation industries. This challenging work provided many adventures and opportunities for Ben, including piloting a ship from New York through the Panama Canal to California.

In 1991, Ben met the love of his life, Elizabeth. They were married in 1993, and began their life together in Anchorage. Ben and Elizabeth's first child, Susan, was born in 1994. Now a father, Ben left his dangerous job at sea and moved to Virginia to attend graduate school. While in Virginia, Ben earned an MBA from George Washington University. During this time Ben and Elizabeth also welcomed two sons: Ben Jr. and Augie.

Ben and his growing family returned to Anchorage in 1998, when Ben was honored to be chosen to lead the 2001 Special Olympics World Winter Games. With more than 8000 athletes and visitors from 61 countries, the Games became the largest international sporting event in Alaska's history and was described by its founder, Eunice Kennedy Shriver, as "the best winter games in the history of Special Olympics."

Ben and Elizabeth were thrilled to welcome their fourth child, Ted, in 2001. That same year, Ben was appointed to the Alaska State Senate by then Governor Tony Knowles. Ben's creative consensus building abilities and willingness to work across party lines for the good of Alaska resulted in his election to Senate Majority Leader, and subsequently Senate President.

Ben enjoyed everything about being a husband and father. When not at work, Ben would be found at the ice rink coaching, refereeing or watching his children grow and excel, on the slopes at Alyeska teaching his children to ski and walking the trails of Kincaid Park with Elizabeth and their dogs. Among friends and trusted loved ones, Ben was always the life of the party. He had the ability to unite a room with his wit and charm and he possessed the skill set to truly hear and understand the life stories of others. For a person with such an amazing life story of his own to tell, Ben was far more interested in learning the stories of other persons, and he carried those stories close to his heart.

Ben's commitment to public service never wavered. In 2018, he was called upon to join newly elected Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy's administration as a policy advisor. In July 2019, he became the Governor's Chief of Staff.

In 2021, Ben became Vice President for External Affairs & Transportation at ConocoPhillips Alaska. This position drew on the full range of Ben's professional experience and vast knowledge of Alaska's urban and rural communities.

Ben Stevens is survived by his wife, Elizabeth; their four children, Susan, Ben Jr., Augie and Ted; future son-in-law, Cameron Saloka; sisters, Susan Covich and Lily Becker; brothers, Ted Stevens Jr. and Walter Stevens; stepmother, Catherine Stevens; and many beloved nephews and nieces.

On Thursday, Oct. 27, 2022, a visitation will be held at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Friday, Oct. 28, 2022, a funeral Mass will be held at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe, starting at 12 p.m. A reception will be held after the Mass at the Special Olympics Alaska Jim Balamaci Training Center from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

The Ben Stevens family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to two organizations that held a special place in Ben's heart: Special Olympics Alaska or the Seawolf Hockey Alliance.

Donations in honor of Ben Stevens can be made to: Special Olympics Alaska, https://square.link/u/jYUH9q5t; or UAA Seawolf Hockey Alliance, https://engage.alaska.edu/uaa/hockey, note in the comments section, "In honor of Ben Stevens."