Carl Nicholas Pete (1946-2023)
Born on July 31, 1946 – Went home to the Lord on May 28, 2023
Carl was born to Mentasta and Elizabeth Pete in the old village site across the Copper River. Carl loved and respected his parents and was proud of the great people they were.
They moved to this side of the river when he was 5 years old. He had to learn to speak English to go to school. Carl attended Glennallen School until he enrolled to mechanical school in San Jose, California in 1968 where he received his diploma.
Carl worked as a wildland firefighter and when the pipeline started, he joined the Laborers Union. He switched to the teamsters’ union and worked for construction companies, including Ahtna Construction. His construction career ended abruptly due to a near fatal head injury that happened while on the job. Carl also worked for Copper River Native Association.
When Carl was young, he was nominated for President of the Native Village of Kluti-Kaah and won the election. He served in that capacity for several years and as a council member. He volunteered countless hours for the Village. He was dedicated to his people.
Carl started playing softball as a young man; He built a homemade target and practiced for hours every day. He loved the game so much that he practiced and excelled at pitching. His first tournament was in Tok, Alaska in 1962; he was young, and the older guys weren’t going to allow him to pitch, but his brother talked them into letting him play. He was a natural. His pitch was “wicked” from the beginning. No one wanted to catch for him because his fastball was like lightning!
Carl formed the Copper Center Braves team and began traveling to tournaments and scrimmage games across the region and outlying communities.
Carl at the baseball field named in his honor.
Carl also built and maintained the ballfield with the help of his brother Stevie and Linda. He dedicated his time and effort to maintaining the field until he got sick. Carl always said his commitment and efforts were for the young people to stay away from drugs and alcohol and to get involved in sports and other activities. In June 2016, the tribal members named the ball field in his honor “CARL N. PETE HONORARY BALL FIELD”.
In the 1970’s and 80’s softball was dying down in the region and other areas as well. Carl decided that he was going to make every effort to revive the sport. He knew that keeping sports at the forefront in the community would offset alcohol and drug activity.
He started organizing annual softball tournaments in Copper Center and in the mid ‘90’s headed up the first “Annual Gathering” in cooperation with Copper River Native Association.
This event was successful and grew to amazing proportions. The main event was the softball tournament. There were teams from all over in attendance. Soon, it was so successful and large that Carl decided that it needed official umpires to officiate. Thus, began another tradition in the softball world of Copper Center and the outlying villages.
The health, wellbeing, and sobriety of his community was always a priority for him. In the 1990’s Carl started the “Sobriety Walk”. The first walk had two starting points, in Copper Center and in Gulkana. The two groups met in the middle at Glennallen. This walk is still an annual event at CRNA.
Carl planned and initiated the gymnasium project in Copper Center to honor his mother Elizabeth and aunt Ruth John’s wishes. It was their wish that there would be a safe place where the younger generation could go. His dream was to build a gym in the village so that children could have a healthy alternative for recreation.
He also saw the potential basketball stars in his village. He wanted to see his grandchildren play basketball in Copper Center and not rely on the school facility, which is barely accessible.
Among the activities he championed, Carl also built a fish wheel every year. He would share his catch with all of the village members. He not only maintained the wheel, but he also taught the young men how to build fishwheels.
Carl was an amazing force in this community. He was extraordinary in all aspects of his full life. He will be missed beyond measure. We know that he is in Heaven with Jesus. He is up there pitching a “No Hitter” with our beloved Carlton.
Carl is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Linda. Children, Carlene Pete; Carol Pete; Carol Cozzen; Sheila Tyone; Jeannette Tyone; Carl Mentasta Pete; Louis Williams; and John Goodwin. Grandchildren, Rayann Rock-Albert; Douglas Rock; John Zackeri Goodwin; Tiana Cozzen; Madison Cozzen; Kayla Tyone; Noah Charley; James Segerquist. Great-grandchildren, Ryan; Rene; Raylee; and Rajon Rock-Albert. Sister, Alice Hand and brother Steve Pete. Many nieces and nephews…. All loved by Uncle Carl!