Obituary: Captain Thomas Oliver Moore (1947 – 2025)

Captain Thomas Moore lived a life that reads like a classic adventure novel. From training for "Top Gun" to navigating the rugged waters of the Inside Passage, he was clearly a man of immense grit and heart.

Captain Tom Moore, a master mariner whose life was defined by service, adventure and the sea. He passed away in 2025 in Herring Cove, Ketchikan, Alaska, at 78 years old.

Captain Thomas Oliver Moore

Born in 1947 in Bethesda, Maryland into a military family, Tom’s early years were spent across the country. A graduate of Lompoc High School, he trained in flight school for Top Gun preparation, a formative experience that instilled in him a lifelong discipline. After studying Electrical Engineering at Cal Poly, Tom volunteered for the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War, serving on the USS Ranger.

His journey to Alaska is the stuff of legend. After working as a welder in Bremerton, Washington, he helped salvage a swamped sailboat and navigated it all the way to Ketchikan. He arrived with only six dollars to his name, starting as a commercial deckhand before beginning a storied 30-year career with the Alaska Marine Highway System. Rising from the Stewards Department to Captain, Tom was a master of the Inside Passage.

His expertise earned him the Governor’s Peak Performance Award and the prestigious ATOS award for heroism – the highest maritime award in the world. Beyond his accolades, Tom was loved for his humor, his steady leadership, and his generosity.

He is survived by his wife Artist Ann Miletich; his daughter, Edie A. Moore; siblings Marion and Ron (Janet) Moore; and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, crewmates, and friends who became family.

Celebration of Life – Sept. 19, 2026

4 p.m.–6 p.m. - Auke Village Recreation Area – 14315-14329 Otter Way, Juneau, Alaska

7 p.m.–BBQ & Sharing Stories - Colin & Jen’s Residence – 3031 Blueberry Hills Road, Juneau, Alaska Contact: Colin Vogler 907-209-0309, Ann Miletich 360-797-4883

Ashes Ceremony – Sept. 21, 2026

M/V LeConte – ETA leaving Juneau/Auke Bay Ferry Terminal: 7 a.m.

Round trip to Hoonah; ETA back at the Juneau/Auke Bay Ferry Terminal: 7:15 p.m.