Donald Andrews

Oct 4, 1935 -

Feb 23, 2024

Longtime Alaska engineer, fisherman and hunter Donald Andrews died Friday, at age 88, after developing Alzheimer's dementia several years prior.

He came to Alaska from West Texas in 1969, with his wife Mary Ann, working for Atlantic Richfield Corporation to develop the pipeline. He remembered that period of his life in Alaska as an exciting time of living on a frontier and loved the spirit of team work that existed while developing a functional pipeline. Later his work focused on the engineering of drilling platforms in Cook Inlet. This was another challenging undertaking that involved considerable uncertainty and, prior to that time, had not been done in the waters off Alaska. After the downsizing of ARCO in the mid-1980s, he worked as a Petroleum Engineering Consultant and perhaps most notably, continued to develop techniques and procedures that are being used to engineer, drill and manage the drilling of waste injection wells on the North Slope of Alaska. His work ethic was a defining characteristic until age 80.

He was born in Granger, Texas, in 1935, and was raised by his parents who were both school teachers during and after the depression. As a boy, a neighbor noticed his interest in fishing and taught him to fish by taking him to the Gulf Coast for day trips. He was a strong football player and was referred to affectionately by his high school friends and coaches as "fat man." He has remained connected to his high school friends into his ninth decade. He graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a master's in petroleum engineering. Later he was accredited as a Professional Engineer and worked in the Permian Basin for several years before being offered work in Alaska.

He had a deep love of Alaska, especially in the early days when he explored the rivers and mountains while backpacking, fishing and hunting. Later in life his hunting took him into further remote areas of the state and these trips became the highlight of the year for him. He was always happiest when outside or while helping others and was a consummate good neighbor. He was a friendly father figure to his daughter's friends and learned to coach soccer when the Girls & Boys Club of Alaska needed more coaches; he was later awarded the best coach of the year three years in a row. He loved kids, had a sense of humor and enjoyed a practical joke. For several decades he provided financial support to St. Joseph's Indian School in South Dakota, and kept a correspondence with one or two students there.

Don developed a love of Alaska art and was motivated to promote the careers of several Alaska wildlife artists. In the early 1980s, he purchased Lord of the Tundra, an oil painting by Charlen Jeffrey, which boosted her recognition as a skilled artist and subsequently the painting went on tour outside of Alaska. Later he promoted the sale of work by Fairbanks artist and friend, Heidi Hahn.

In the later years of his life his sense of humor continued on even as the dementia progressed. He was loved by the caregivers at Vista Hermosa for his jokes, liveliness and quirky perspective on life; they described him as a bright spot in their day. Don is predeceased by his parents, Edgar and Angel Lee Andrews; and sister, Martha Lynn. He is survived by his brother, Duane Andrews M.D., retired surgeon of Tyler, Texas; ex-wife, Mary Ann Andrews, Ph.D., retired clinical psychologist of Santa Fe, N.M.; and daughter, Gretchen Andrews, M.D. (and Roger Hassol) of British Columbia, along with their two children Max and Rose Andrews.

It is suggested that any memorial donations be sent to Vista Hermosa, 2929 Calle Vera Cruz, Santa Fe, NM, 87507; or to St. Joseph's Indian School, 1301 North Main St., Chamberlain, SD, 57325. For either organization please note in memory of Don Andrews so the donation is appropriately managed. To be in touch with the family, feel free to email gretch.andrews@gmail.com.