Aloizy Kuchta
…and with a name like “Kootka”, it sounded like an Indian name and I figured he was part Tlingit! Instead I found out from reading the Juneau Empire’s obituary his name is Aloizy Kuchta and he’s originally from Poland. (Huh, oh? That explains his Eastern European accent; gawd, what do I know?)
Al and I hadn’t seen one another in years, however we ran into each other during Celebration weekend back in June in front of Goldbelt’s hotel. We hugged, shook hands, laughed and wondered where the other was all this time! I even took a photo of us on my little digital camera (and I looked all over for that photo in my iPhoto files and could not find it – I am sad I do not have that photo).
After reading his obituary, I realized this man has known me all my life! No wonder (like many of us) he was always so kind. He watched me grow up: holding my parents’ hands, walking to school, running around in the woods, on the docks, on my bike, building bonfires out Thane Road, rowing “borrowed” skiffs, holding hands with a boyfriend, then being married, raising children, doing my landscaping business, etc. etc. Just think about all the people he watched grow up in this town.
My father and Al were friends; they had similar interests in fishing and hunting. Al was like a distant uncle not so distant. He always wore twinkling eyes, even when I last saw him back in June. Although he was obviously (finally) getting old, I could still feel in him the robust strength and love of life.. He walked just a little slower, he nodded his head a bit gentler, yet he still had that uplifting hug!
Al was one of Juneau’s old-timers. We “big city” kids grew up with familiar downtown Juneau faces – so many of them are gone now. With the familiarity of these folks, there was a sense of security. Many old timers watched out for us. When I see old people still walking around, even as slow as they might be, they are a treasure; it’s like having beautiful flowers on the table and quoting my friend Brien: “…reminding us how short life is…”
As our parents’ generation is moving on, the “Baby-boomer” generation is moving into the position of being “old-timers.”
There will be a service at the Catholic Church this Saturday, December 11th at 9:30am. You may read more about Al Kuchta in the Juneau Empire at: http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/120510/obi_746080692.shtml
Lies lies and more lies. Twisting everything. He was the most evil person walking this earth. Almost killed a person fishing. Have you lived with him even a day? if not do not make him look like he was on angel because he was a devil. People who know him will confirm what I just said. He was the most racist person too, talking bad about about Jews and native people behind there backs and you liked him? When his son (last time) came to visit him he did not let him into the house, his son was homeless in Juneau and you say Al “was always so kind” By the way, Poland never was and never will be Eastern European country, go back to school and learn about Europe, Poland was never Russia and calling Poland Eastern European country is very very bad.
Well, obviously we all have our “dark” sides, don’t we? Who we may be in public is not who we may be in private, as the saying goes. It is obvious i did not know him.
Yes, that’s why is better not to write about someone you don’t know or did not know, by the way when he went to Poland he never visited his sister and she was still alive then, she waited rest of her life to see him, she died without seen him, that’s how kind he was
Alojzy (Big Al ) Was like a father to me. He had a very generous nature. Traumatic brain injuries and post traumatic stress going back to the Holocaust days in Poland left him a challenged man but one who refused to give up. Sure he had his idiosyncracies like many of us do but he helped make Juneau the place it is and those of us who admired his hospitality and friendship can learn a lesson from our friend Al about humanity and being truely human. We’ll miss you Al ! God bless you friend.