biking post

Hi all,
Well here is my bike, I bought it in 1977, it has served me many years. It is a good old bike. I've fabricated a carrier on the back and can carry 2 gallons of water at a time.

Tom time for you to post your bike picture, and anyone else that has one.

Hope all is well with everyone and will be looking for some interesting pictures form everyone.

Take care, Marsha

Looking at pictures

I just went through the pictures I took while up in Alaska this last time. This one touches my heart a great deal.
I hope everyone is doing good, it sure would be nice to hear from Marie.
Maybe someone could help her get a gmail address, let me know and I'd send her an invite to post.
I'd like to thank everyone for their kind generosity. We have all felt much happiness and sadness this past year, I think we are all closer.
Love to you all, Marsha

Anders and Uncle Jack

Anders, the youngest son of Chris and Mary Carol Miller is showing Uncle Jack some scenes on the TV set. The scenes depict some of Phil's adventures in his life.
He is - without doubt - one of the very most handsome young "ons' who will charm everyone he meets in life....Tom

Another joyful bundle - Teslin

Attached are two pics of the other "precious sister" Teslin belonging to Germaine and Scot. How we'll enjoy seeing the two girls grow to be the impactful women they are destined to be....Tom

Keeping up with the kids (and family?)

First of all, I love the 20 min segment from Chris Miller. It's both painful and joyful to watch - to see how much joy Phil meant to so many and the wonderful happy family that he and Marie founded and the stark reality that he is gone. Even after a week plus, Phil is on my mind most of the time.
I hope that our blog site remains the magnet to collect the momentos of our very big Myerchin and inlaws families; to watch all the grandkids grow and to honor those who will follow Phil.
Tonight, I'm posting two slides of that little bundle of joy "Sarabear" with Phil and will post others depicting the other Phil clan people.

In Memory of Phil R. Myerchin

PaPa Phil

I'll never forget Phil...after the birth of our first son Matias, some of you may know that it was a really rough start. Matias was in NICU for a week after his birth. That week was the most intense period in my life. During this time, it was really easy to focus on the worst. Phil was steadfast in his belief that everything would be fine. Phil's continuous positive attitude and optimism was the reason our family was able to get through this period in time. I can not thank him enough.

Today...just as Phil told us, everything is alright. Matias is doing great! He's in third grade Russian Language Immersion School, runs cross-country, plays hockey, downhill skis, has the myerchin free-spirit and in the light of his grandpa Phil...got first place in his 2nd grade science project.

Growing up a city boy in Minneapolis, the way we fixed things in our home was with our credit card. Upon marrying Mary Carol, Phil was like a father to me. I soon learned that it was almost a sin to pay someone else to fix something. Everything that I've ever learned to fix is because of him. Phil I'll miss those annual fishing excursions to the Kenai and the Halibut Hole.

Thank you for being a great father and grandfather. We are all lucky to have had you in our life.

Love your son-in-law Chris

For those who would like to view Phil's obituary and sign the guestbook. The link is below.

http://www.legacy.com/ADN/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=117395013

The Myerchin Sibs Sep 2008

Tom, Bill, Jack, and Marsha
with Phil on the day before he died.

For a very special brother who gave all great joy and companionship throughout our lives.
Bill Myerchin

I love you dear brother. Rest in peace, amen.
your sister, Marsha

Philip Myerchin "May he rest in peace"

My brother, Philip Myerchin, a long time resident of Ketchikan and Anchorage died on 11 September 2008 after a valiant fight with cancer. He was 70 years old and was born in Grand Forks North Dakota on December 27^th, 1937. He was the son of my parents - Joseph Myerchin and Laura Schiller.

I would like to share a few comments about the significance of his life and why he was so loved and esteemed by his colleagues, friends and family.

Before coming to Alaska he farmed in Minnesota and specialized in feed crops and beef cattle herds. Concurrent with these farming operations, he taught physics, chemistry and mathematics to high school students at Forrest River, North Dakota and later in Hallock, Minnesota.

In addition to graduating from the University of North Dakota with a BS in Chemistry and Physics in 1959, he also earned a BA in Mathematics. Later, he fulfilled a fellowship at the Oak Ridge Institute of Nuclear Studies with advanced studies in physical chemistry and mathematics. In 1966 he returned to the University of North Dakota where he completed his formal studies and earned an MS in Mathematics with special emphasis in the cognate area of chemistry.

Phil arrived in Ketchikan in 1964 and taught physics, chemistry and methematics at the Ketchikan High School until his retirement in 1994. He also taught mathematics and science courses at the Ketchikan Community College for adult GED examination.

He served in a number of local and state positions of the National Education Association. There he held the various positions as President and chief negotiator in bargaining and as an advocate for other teachers. On the State level, he served six years as a member of the Board of Directors.

In Ketchikan, Phil became affiliated with local Democratic Party activities. He was Chairman of the local Ketchikan Democratic Precinct Committee and Southeast Regional Democratic Precinct Committee. He served with Russ Brown and others on the Ketchikan Committee to elect Nick Begich. There, Phil also devoted considerable time to his business activities in real estate.

While in Ketchikan, he became a member of the Ketchikan Mountaineering Association and participated in several rescues

Following his retirement from teaching in Ketchikan in 1994, Phil moved to Anchorage to be near his children and grandchildren. True to his goal of thoroughly enjoying retirement, Phil and his wife Marie devoted much time to travel around the world.

Phil is survived by his wife of 42 years, Marie, and his two sons, Chris Myerchin with wife Sandy, and their two young boys Keegan and Dominic of Seattle and Paul Myerchin of Anchorage; his daughters Germaine Thomas, with husband Scott and their daughters Teslin and Sarana of Anchorage, Mary Carol Miller and her husband Chris and sons Matias, Darby and Anders also of Anchorage and Greta Myerchin of Fairbanks.

He is also survived by his three brothers, myself of Nashville, TN, John of Banning, CA and William of San Bernardino, CA and a sister, Marsha Cathy Erickson of Perham, MN. and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

A great leader teaches. Phil was a great teacher – for he set the compass of numerous students who have become successful leaders themselves - under his mentorship.

May he rest in peace.

For Phil

Did you ever dream you’d have a thousand children? Or that a thousand fathers gave you life?

Did you ever see the thousand stars that burst to life to make you? The light that came a thousand years, a thousand minutes, a thousand seconds to filter through the prism of you?

It split into a thousand colors, streamed away a thousand places, touched a thousand shores, fed a thousand trees, became a thousand grains of sand to drift and dune a thousand years

Have you thought a thousand thoughts, taken a thousand breaths, kissed a thousand cheeks a thousand times?

Do you know you’ve spoken to a thousand minds, touched a thousand hearts, lived in a thousand memories

Or more?