Joseph Austin Gannon was born October 15, 1955, to William T. Gannon and Lois M. Livingston Gannon. He grew up building and racing canoes on the waterways of upstate New York. His love of adventure and the outdoors brought him to Alaska as a young man. He fell in love with Cordova at the age of 19, and spent his 20s and 30s seining Prince William Sound and honing his skills as a carpenter. He married his wife, Chris Pakulak, in December 1983 and they eventually moved to Bainbridge Island, Washington, where they raised their two children. Joe travelled the world for his second career in the offshore cable industry, earning the respect of friends and colleagues from across the globe. His dream was to retire in Cordova, however, and he returned 10 years ago to build a home here. In recent years, nothing made him happier than subsistence fishing with his wife and grown children and spending time on the water. He is dearly loved and missed by many, predeceased by his sister Elaine and survived by his sister Nancy and brother John Gannon, as well as his wife Chris, and two children, Iris and Tom. A potluck celebration of Joe’s life will be held at noon on Saturday, May 29 at the Reluctant Fisherman Inn. All who knew and loved him are welcome to attend.
