Sada Simran Pedersen

 

Sada Simran Pedersen 1945-2025 

 

Sada was born in Illinois and grew up in Rye NY, 30 miles from where Jill Newman grew up in northeast NJ. The Air Force took him to Fairbanks in 1968, and after his service he decided to stay in Alaska, and let his hippie flag fly free. Soon after, he convinced 3 high school friends to join him in Alaska, much to the chagrin of their parents. 

 

In his early years in Fairbanks Sada worked a variety of jobs - as a bus driver, for BLM driving big trucks, on the pipeline, clearing roads and building cabins with friends- finding himself in the freedom and opportunity of Alaska. In the late ‘70s, he explored Sikh spirituality, a practice that would guide him throughout his life. 

 

Sada and Jill became close friends in 1973, soon after she moved to Fairbanks. They married in 1982 in Hawaii and had a long and happy marriage, recently celebrating their 43rd anniversary. Their daughter Liz was born in 1984, and she has added so much fun and joy to their lives. She continues to be a pillar of support, strength, and love.

 

Sada’s Post Office career spanned 24 years, where he was a city carrier and a driver trainer. He was an active member of the National Association of Letter Carriers, serving for several years as shop steward and mentor.  

 

In the mid ’90s, Sada’s sister Jo moved to Fairbanks, closely followed by their parents, Mary and George, adding to their family circle. Sada’s brother Bill and his family, Lynne, Robby, and Heather, visited many times over the years. 

 

When Liz went off to college, they started to travel a bit in the winter, first going to Central America, and after retirement, to Thailand, making that long trip every other winter. They were often joined by friends and family, and they loved sharing Chiang Mai - their ‘winter home’.

 

Sada played softball, and then eventually golf, which for him was all about spending time with good friends. For several decades they hosted a big 4th of July potluck gathering and a New Year’s Eve extravaganza, including kids jumping on their snowy trampoline at -20° and colder, fireworks, and a HUGE bonfire that he’d build from pallets and other scrap lumber he’d collected over the year.

 

Sada had many interests in his life including being their general handyman and fixer, accumulating and repurposing stuff from the transfer station, aka Treasure Island. He loved reading, especially the newspaper, history and fiction, and listening to KUAC all day long, all while being a dedicated napper … anytime, anywhere. 

 

In 2021 they decided it was time to leave Alaska. That winter they joined Liz in Portland, and by spring had bought a terrific little house. They returned north and began the monumental task of dismantling their home of 30 years - a job that was like a huge 3-D jigsaw puzzle in motion. Life in Portland has been great, and although they dearly miss their Fairbanks community, being with Liz again has been wonderful, and … it’s green here all winter long!

 

They learned about 18 months ago of Sada’s diagnosis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, and he did very well managing it for a long time. Last summer he started using a Portable Oxygen Concentrator as needed, and fortunately they were able to take their long-planned trip to Thailand in December. He was happy to be there one more time, but while there, he felt the need for more oxygen creeping up on him. By the time they were back home, he’d started to use the maximum setting on the machine full-time.

 

During the few weeks they were back home, his health gradually went downhill, though he still hoped to reach his 80th birthday in mid-May. However, by the first day of March, after a very rough night, Sada decided to go the ER. The ambulance EMTs and the ER staff at the hospital were impressive and took excellent care of him, following all of his end of life choices and making his final hours comfortable. 

 

The family are very thankful and very grateful. Prior to heading to Thailand, Sada had completed and registered a POLST form, which is a medical order that focuses on end of life choices and care, and it was so important to have that already in place. A POLST or something like it, is available in many states, and they can’t urge you strongly enough to get your wishes and your loved ones’ wishes in writing. polst.org

 

Liz and Jill were with Sada the whole time. They were joined by long time friends John and Molly, along with their daughters Rachel and Robin, who grew up with Liz in Fairbanks and are like cousins. They all comforted each other and reminisced - they told funny stories and laughed, and sad stories and cried. They are brokenhearted, but are finding peace in knowing that he lived a very full life and was able to die content and in comfort, having made his own choices. 

 

They thank and appreciate each of you who helped make Sada’s life so rich. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Sada’s name to his beloved KUAC (or your local NPR station) would be welcome and wonderful. kuac.org

 

A simple gathering to honor Sada will be held in Fairbanks in late June, please message Jill for information.