Former state Rep. Clark Gruening, longtime Juneau activist and grandson of Alaska territorial governor, dies at 82

Clark Gruening, who grew up in Juneau and was hailed for a wide range of achievements as a member of one of Alaska’s notorious political families, died Tuesday at the Juneau Pioneers Home at the age of 82.

Gruening is the grandson of Ernest Gruening, who served as Alaska’s territorial governor from 1939 to 1953. Clark Gruening followed in his grandfather’s footsteps by serving in the Alaska House of Representatives from 1975 to 1978, representing Anchorage.

"During this time, he was key to the creation of the Alaska Permanent Fund," the University of Alaska Southeast noted in a profile of him in 2020 when he was presented with an honorary doctorate of laws. He also served eight years on the fund’s board of trustees for eight years, including two as its chairman.

"There is a long list of his contributions to our state’s philanthropic and public service sectors, including many years of work with the Juneau Community Foundation, the Foraker Group, Southeast Alaska Independent Living (SAIL) and Outdoor Recreation Community Access (ORCA), among many other organizations," the university noted.

Among Gruening’s accolades in Juneau was receiving the first-ever Founders’ Award from the Juneau Community Foundation in 2015 for his "life long work in support of those in need."

Gruening was born in California, but moved with family to Juneau at a young age and graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1961. He received a bachelor’s degree in political science in 1965 from the University of Oregon and juris doctor with honors from George Washington University in 1969.

In 1980, after departing the Legislature, Gruening defeated incumbent U.S. Sen. Mike Gravel in the Democratic primary. The win was further historically significant because in 1968 Gravel defeated Ernest Gruening in the Democratic primary. However, Clark Gruening would lose the 1980 general election to Republican Frank Murkowski.

Gov. Mike Dunleavy announced Wednesday flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of Gruening "on a date to be determined in accordance with the family’s wishes."

“Rose and I are saddened by the passing of Clark Gruening. He came from a long legacy of public service and devoted much of his life to Alaska’s future,” Dunleavy said in a prepared statement. “We extend our deepest sympathies to his family and all who knew him.”

Surviving family members in Juneau are his wife, Rosemary; sons Nathan and Matthew; and brothers Win and Brad, all of Juneau. He is also survived by his brother Peter Gruening; and sisters Kimberley and Tiffany, all of Washington State.

• Contact Mark Sabbatini at editor@juneauindependent.com or (907) 957-2306.