Franklin James “Frank” Gularte 

Anchorage resident Frank J. Gularte, 53, died Feb. 1, 2005, surrounded by family and friends at Providence Alaska Medical Center. A memorial service was at Evergreen Memorial Chapel. A graveside service for Frank J. Gularte was held at Anchorage Memorial Park Cemetery. A gathering was afterward at Blues Central, his favorite bar. 

Mr. Gularte was born Sept. 14, 1951, in Fairbanks to Tony Gularte and Liza Demientieff. He spent the greater part of 49 years in Anchorage. His family wrote: "During his time in Anchorage, Frank tried his hand at everything. He was a free spirit, a hairdresser, a minister, a middle-aged college student and an educator. In 1970, Frank spent time working on Amchitka Island, which is now believed to be related to his struggles with lymphoma. "Frank married Laurel Hunter in 1974. They raised three daughters, and he lived to see the birth of his first granddaughter. "He never stopped searching for happiness. In June 2000 he relocated to Las Vegas in search of sunshine. He and Laurel divorced in 2001. ... During his remaining time in Las Vegas, Frank served as an academic dean to Las Vegas College in Henderson, Nev. "Frank discovered he was suffering from non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in July 2004. He started treatments at St. Rose Dominican Hospital in Henderson with the support of his youngest daughter, Hillary. In December, Frank returned to Alaska to continue treatments at Providence Hospital. He stayed in the care of his youngest sister and brother-in-law, Margaret and Ronald Mintus, with help from his two older daughters. "When he and his youngest daughter first learned he had cancer, Frank said to her, 'I'm not a man of wealth, Hill. My journey has been mostly internal. Looking back, I have no regrets.' "Frank's death is not one that will be easy to recover from. He is greatly missed, but to quote Tom Hanks in Frank's favorite movie, 'Castaway': 'I've got to keep breathing because tomorrow the sun will rise -- who knows what the tide could bring.' " 

Mr. Gularte is survived by his brothers, Richard and Jerry Gularte; sister, Margie Mintus; daughters, Lauran, Vanessa and Hillary Gularte; and grandchild, Liza. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, www.leukemia-lymphoma.org.