Harold "Skip" Zenger

Harold "Skip" Zenger Jr. born in Alexandria, Virginia on March 22, 1945 to Harold Herschel Zenger Sr. and Mildred Emily Zenger. In 1945 he traveled to Alaska aboard an Alaska steamship, where he received his nickname "Skipper," which later became just "Skip."

Raised in Juneau, Alaska, Skip graduated from Juneau-Douglas High School in 1963. He attended Pacific Lutheran University and then San Diego State University and graduated in June of 1969 with a Bachelors of Science in Biology. Shortly after he began his Federal employment in Kodiak with Exploratory Fishing and Gear Research, which later became National Marine Fisheries.

In 1972, Skip was recruited by a friend in the United Nations and left for a 4 year position in Brazil. While in Brazil, first in Florianopolis then later in Salvador, he became fluent in Portuguese by writing cruise reports, listening to Bossa Nova, and talking with his friends. This is also where he met his second wife, Marta. Skip fell in love with Brazil and went back almost every year to spend time with his newfound family and friends.

Returning to the US in July 1977 with a family, he reestablished his Government service as a research fishery biologist while working out of Sand Point Naval Base and off of research vessels in the Bering Sea, off the coast of Japan and Australia. During those many years working for NOAA, Skip pioneered the use of magnesium alloy timed-released devices and specialized in supplying historical catch information. He returned to academia for graduate work in Fisheries Biology at the UW and participated in the U.S.-Japan cooperative longline survey, helped establish the AFSC longline survey of the Gulf of Alaska, and co-authored a book culminating that research.

Skip retired on January 6th 2005 but only from "official" work. He and Marta became part of a condominium community where Skip became a much respected Board member who was instrumental in helping owners during major reconstruction. He worked very hard to help coordinate the annual Juneau-Douglas Picnic where his "techie" skills and love of Juneau came together to make the event fun and memorable. Skip could often be found riding his bike on the Sammamish Trail or paddling his canoe on the Sammamish River where he collected thousands of golf balls that would be donated to youth golf programs. Annual trips to Brazil and the special times spent at the park or in the pool with his grandchildren "Meme" and "LeLaina" rounded out Skip's retirement.

Skip's humble demeanor, meticulous attention to detail, genuineness, and love for his friends and family earned him the love and respect of many. He will be sorely missed.

Skip is survived by his wife of 35 years, Marta Zenger, his four children, Adam (Michelle), Anne (Bil Rosky), Eloise (Stacy Arnold), Nico (Michelle Muri), his mother, Mildred, brother Don (Debbie), and beloved granddaughters Amelia and Alaina.