Barbara Seaman–Runnoe, age 69 of Homer, Alaska passed away peacefully at South Peninsula Hospital’s Long Term Care Unit on July 8, 2025. She was surrounded by family and friends for the months preceding her passing and on the day of her passing. Barb was born in Pittsford, New York on December 29, 1955. A private green burial was held on July 13, 2025 where she was interred at the Homer’s Hickerson Memorial Cemetery.

Barb was a very special person with a constant addictive smile, tenacious attitude toward life yet being compassionate and caring to all that knew her well including her many pets.

Barb moved to Homer from New York in her early twenties seeking new life adventures and she most definitely achieved that goal. Early on, in the 80’s, Barb worked at various jobs in and around Homer like most newbies toHomer, but mostly on the water, doing things like working on various fishing vessels including being the Captain of the Danny “J”, running the USPS mail route between Homer and Tutka Bay in a small wooden skiff braving the elements and even participating in the Valdez Oil Spill mess. She was a true “Salty Gal”! She spent several years living across Kachemak Bay in Little Tutka Bay where she and her husband started a family until they eventually and literally floated their home across Kachemak Bay and placed it on an acreage in Kachemak City knowing it was important to have their children in the Homer Public School System.

Barb loved the outdoors and believed in protecting special places for public recreation and ecosystems important to fish and wildlife so she became part of the Kachemak Heritage Land Trust in its infancy and eventually served as Executive Director for many years and then moving on to Anchorage to serve as the Executive Director of the Alaska Marine Conservation Council. In 2009 she decided to move with her best friend and companion to Idaho to support him until he retired in 2015 and then they both returned to her beloved Homer that she always called home.

When she wasn’t busy with her many professional pursuits, she loved spending time with family and friends, gardening, picking blueberries, making fantastic pies and enjoyed making valued articles of art from most anything.

Unfortunately, not long after moving back to Homer she developed symptoms of dementia and was ultimately diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia which was devastating. But even under those circumstances she still kept a smile on her face and fought the disease with intense fortitude until her passing.

Barb is preceded in death by her parents Priscilla Bartlett Sax and Richard Sax from Pittsford and Rochester, New York and her Uncle John Griffin from Long Island, NewYork who was like a second dad to her.

Barb is survived by her husband, Will Runnoe; daughter and son-in-law Alder and Kelly Snow and Barb’s beloved granddaughter Avery Snow; her son Nat Seaman, all from Homer; Sister Cindy Sax from Chicago; Sister Nancy Sax Malehorn and son-in-Law Richard Malehorn of Victor, New York plus several cousins, nieces & nephews, step relatives and many other friends and colleagues that were very special to her.

A public celebration of life with be held for Barbara at a future date.

Anyone wishing to make a monetary donation on her behalf can do so by donating to the Alaska Alzheimer’s Association, Kachemak Heritage Land Trust or KBBI Public Radio.