Lifelong Alaskan Daniel Alex, 66, died Sept. 12, 2007, at Alaska Regional Hospital after suffering a massive heart attack.

A gathering of friends and family will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Evergreen Memorial Chapel, 737 E St. A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday at United Methodist Church of Chugiak. Honorary pallbearers will include Harold Kuphaldt, Roy Ondola, Christopher O'Fallon, Gary Cooper, Bobby Alex, Max Alex, Timothy Alex and Floyd Hammond. Burial will be at Eklutna Village Cemetery.

Mr. Alex was born in a log cabin March 9, 1941, in Eklutna. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in math and science in 1964 from Alaska Methodist University.

From 1964 until 1973, he worked as a geophysicist for the U.S. Naval Oceanographic office in Washington, D.C. Since 1973, he had worked in consulting and managing capacities for various Native organizations, particularly those associated with Eklutna.

He was appointed by President Reagan to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, for which he served 20 years. He was also a member of the State of Alaska Commission on Federal Land Areas; president of Alaska Native Land Managers Association for 11 years; cultural adviser for the Alaska Native Harbor Seal Commission; board member of Alaska Pacific University for 27 years; project coordinator for the Cook Inlet Marine Mammal Commission; member of the State of Alaska Commission on Federal Land Areas; commissioner of Cook Inlet Housing Authority and Cook Inlet Housing Development Authority; board member of Eklutna Inc.; and tribal administrator of the Native Village of Eklutna.

He enjoyed dancing and fishing.

His family said, "He was devoted to his village and his family, and was proud to be Dene'ina."

Survivors include his daughter, Jennifer Alex of Seattle; sisters, Lois Munson and Julia Cooper of Eklutna, Margaret Kuphaldt of Palmer and Linda Alex; brothers, Bobby Alex of Anchorage, Max Alex of Eklutna and Tim Alex; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.

Memorial donations may be directed to Cook Inlet Regional Corp. Foundation, Daniel Alex Scholarship Foundation, c/o CIRI Foundation, 3600 San Jeronimo Drive, Suite 256, Anchorage 99508.