ASEA Friends and Family Mourn the Passing of Sam Rhodes: 

Sam was a life-long labor and union advocate. Before arriving in Alaska to fill the Business Agent/Organizer position, Sam was active in the labor movement and served in several leadership roles including Vice-President and Chief Steward as a member of AFSCME Local 1180 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, President of TSU Local 69 in Houston, Texas, and a negotiations advisor for TXPEGSU in Austin, Texas. He also served as President and Staff Business Agent at AFSCME Local 1180, Staff Representative at AFSCME Local 1550 in Houston, and as a Field Organizer for the American Federation of Teachers/Texas Federation of Teachers/PEG.

Sam joined the ASEA family to serve as a Business Agent/Organizer in September 2005. Sam was a fighter for the rights of employees and was dedicated to representing, organizing, and negotiating for Alaska’s state and municipal employees. 

Sam was dedicated and caring, and we will miss his wisdom and words of solidarity.

Sam passed away from his illness on November 5th. He is survived by his wife Karen and mother Claudie.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks for donations to Friends of Pets, Sam’s favorite charity.

Please feel welcome to view and share any photos of Sam if you feel called: https://photos.app.goo.gl/fr4oCq9jteyUrZhR6

You can read Sam’s Obituary from the ADN here: https://obituaries.adn.com/adportal/listing/Samuel-Rhodes/W0026296.html

The ASEA Health Trust includes an Employee Assistance Program (EAP). The EAP is a confidential counseling service, free of charge to you and your dependents, provided by a contracted, independent employee assistance vendor, Lifeworks. For more information, visit https://www.aseahealth.org/document-asea-plan-booklet/file#page=49

Employee Assistance Lifeworks Program: (877) 234-5151, www.lifeworks.com
User ID: asea
Initial password: eap