Sylvester David Kiyonuk "Sandy" Mazen, 93, passed away on September 6, 2021. Mazen's childhood was spent first in Wales, where his parents were teachers, then Shaktoolik, and by the time he was ready to start school, the family had settled in Nome. Like many Alaska youngsters, Mazen was sent out of state to live with family during World War II. He returned in time to complete his senior year, graduating from Nome High School in 1946. Following graduation, Mazen enlisted in the United States Army, and served in Nome, Pt. Nome, Shemya, Adak and Fairbanks. While in Fairbanks, he met and married Shirley Tonseth and the couple relocated to Washington state before Mazen was honorably discharged at Ft. Lawton, near Seattle.



Mazen earned a Doctor of Education at Washington State University. He taught at elementary, middle, and high schools in Washington before accepting a position to teach marriage and family counseling at ASU. A licensed psychologist, Mazen trained with William H. Masters, Virginia E. Johnson and Lonnie Barbach, known for their work in the field of human sexuality, developed human sexuality classes for ASU’s counselor education department, pioneered a counseling program for sexual offenders serving time in Arizona state prisons, and traveled to Russia and China as part of a university-level exchange program addressing social and cultural topics. He also worked with Heuristics Systems to train U.S. Department of Labor employees across the United States and was a staff member for Omega Vector, a personal development program.

Mazen and his wife, Shirley, divorced while living in Arizona, and she died several years later. Mazen's interest in sailing grew. After purchasing the Hanta Yo, a 41-foot ketch-rigged sailboat, he launched his longest sailing adventure from San Diego, down the West Coast to Mexico and Central America, turning west from Panama to the Galapagos, the Marquesas and Tahiti, and completing the journey by sailing the Hanta Yo to Homer. Settling in Homer, Mazen enjoyed helping his daughter and son-in-law with their fish tendering operation. Mazen trained as a U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteer, spending hundreds of hours patrolling Kachemak Bay, assisting mariners and promoting boating and water safety for all ages in communities around the state. As a USCG Auxiliary member, Mazen was privileged to sail on the USCGC Hickory's maiden voyage from Cleveland, Ohio, to Homer, round trip from Homer to Hawaii and from Homer along Alaska's West Coast as far north as Little Diomede and Wales.



After marrying McKibben Jackinsky, they adopted a snowbird lifestyle, traveling between Homer and the Oregon Coast. In his memoir "Kiyonuk, An Arctic Alaska boyhood," Mazen shared stories from his adventurous life. While halibut fishing with his son in August 2020, he suffered a torn aorta and spinal stroke. Mazen is preceded in death by a sister, a brother and his first wife Shirley Tonseth Mazen. He is survived by wife McKibben Jackinsky, three daughters, two sons, a granddaughter, five grandsons, two great-granddaughters, nieces, nephews, two step-daughters, one step-grandson, three step-granddaughters and his canine companion. Donations in Mazen’s name may be made to the Homer Foundation, 3733 Ben Walters Lane, Suite 7, Homer, Alaska 99603. A celebration of Mazen's life will be held at a later date. (Source: ASU Foundation)