Dennis C. McAllister, 71

GILFORD — Dennis C. McAllister, 71, of Sitka, Alaska, and Gilford, New Hampshire, died peacefully May 3, 2018, at Lakes Region General Hospital, Laconia, with his loving sister, Jayne, by his side. He had been active and in good health until his death from complications from Parkinson’s accompanied by dementia.

Dennis was born in Concord on May 28, 1946, the son of Corey E. and Ada (Flanders) McAllister. He was the oldest of two children, his sister Jayne being two years younger. He grew up in Ashland and Gilford, then went on to live in Alaska for over 32 years.

Dennis graduated from Laconia High School in 1964 and the University of New Hampshire, Durham, in 1968, with a bachelor of science degree in Forestry. During college, Dennis worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a backcountry ranger in the White Mountain National Forest.

Dennis was then drafted into the U.S. Army in 1968 and served as a military policeman at West Point Military Academy where he worked in backcountry security. He was honorably discharged in 1974.

He then made a career working for the Alaska Department of Fish and Game in wildlife research.  He specialized in live-capture of bears, wolves, moose, caribou and seals. One of the highlights was developing a method for capturing steller sea lions underwater, thus greatly furthering the research on this endangered species. For this, Dennis was certified as a Commercial Science Diver for the State of Alaska.

Dennis lived for adventure. Throughout his life, he was an avid climber, canoeist, skier and diver. In 1973, he led the first American, Seventh World, Ski-traverse of Greenland’s inland ice. In 1984, he was mauled by a grizzly bear and survived to retell the story many times.

Dennis was preceded in death by his mom and dad. He leaves his sister Jayne R. McAllister of Gilford, one uncle, one aunt and eight cousins.

No calling hours or church services are planned.  A military graveside service will be held May 9, 2018, at 11 a.m. at the Pine Grove Cemetery, Gilford.  A remembrance will be held afterward at the Gilford Community Church in the fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, Dennis has asked that memorial donations be made to the Central New Hampshire VNA and Hospice, 780 N. Main St., Laconia, NH 03246, which did so much for his mom, Ada, before she passed away in April 2000; or they could be made Lakes Region General Hospital Senior Service Unit, 80 Highland St., Laconia, NH 03246, which did so much for Dennis, making his death very peaceful.        

Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 164 Pleasant St., Laconia, is assisting the family with the arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, go to www.wilkinsonbeane.com.