[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 33 (Tuesday, March 9, 2010)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1308-S1309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       REMEMBERING DIANA TILLION

 Ms. MURKOWSKI. Mr. President, today I wish to honor Diana 
Tillion, of Halibut Cove, AK. I am saddened to report that Diana, a 
true Alaskan spirit and invaluable public servant, passed away at home, 
with her family surrounding her, on February 3, 2010, at the age of 81. 
Diana is remembered by those who knew her as a beloved wife and mother, 
public servant, teacher, writer, poet, and friend. She is treasured by 
the people back home as an incredible artist who depicted Alaska's 
beauty in a unique way. Diana had the ability to create a window 
through her art--a window into the impressive and untamed landscape of 
our great State. Any one of her pieces could draw you into that scene 
and that moment in a meaningful and memorable way.
  Alaska is a vast open land full of breathtaking scenery, wild 
animals, and diverse terrain. It is also a place that is rich in 
culture. From Alaska's native peoples and the traditions passed down by 
their ancestors, to the pioneers of the gold rush, to Alaskans who are 
breaking new ground today--it is not a place for the faint of heart. 
Alaskans take pride in this, and Diana Tillion undoubtedly understood 
this sense of pride and shared in it with us.
  Diana was born in Paradise, CA on June 1, 1928. She migrated north to 
the

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territory of Alaska at the age of 11 in 1939, when her stepfather and 
mother found work at the Independence Gold Mine outside of Palmer, AK. 
In 1942 her family moved to Homer, AK. Before graduating from high 
school in 1948, Diana had already gained attention and praise for her 
art. In her teens Diana won a juror's choice award for a painting and 
was paid $100 a great--amount at that time--to paint a mural of Homer 
in the old Yah Sure Club saloon. She was recognized as a promising 
artist and began studying art by correspondence, since, at that time, 
there was no road access to Homer and the lower Kenai Peninsula. As a 
young woman, Diana left Alaska to study under the prominent artists of 
the time in New York, London, and Paris.
  In 1952, Diana married an Alaskan commercial fisherman and the love 
of her life, Clem Tillion. Clem proposed to Diana on their first date, 
and they spent 59 wonderful years together. Clem and Diana built their 
life together in Halibut Cove, a small scenic community located on the 
south shore of Kachemak Bay in Prince William Sound--a 6-mile trip by 
boat from Homer. The Tillions had four children: William, Marian, 
Martha, and Vincent. When Alaska celebrated statehood in 1958, Clem 
became active in the State legislature and served in both the House and 
Senate. Diana was a key supporter in Clem's political career and 
successfully moved four children back and forth between Halibut Cove 
and Juneau when the State legislature was in session. She maintained 
their education as well as her career in the arts throughout this time. 
Her son Vincent has said that she ``supported [Clem] wholeheartedly in 
a way many wouldn't be able to do''. The special friendship between 
Clem and Diana Tillion was well recognized among political colleagues 
and friends in Juneau.
  In 1958 Diana discovered a new medium, distinguishing herself as the 
first and only known artist to paint with octopus ink. A biologist 
friend helped her perfect the extraction process so that removing the 
ink caused no harm to the creatures found in the lagoon near her home. 
Once removed, the ink naturally regenerates. Diana was fascinated by 
how the color of the ink shifted from animal to animal--from purple to 
gold to green. She built an art gallery in Halibut Cove that drew many 
visitors and renowned artists to the small community over several 
decades. It was said that Diana turned Halibut Cove into an ``isolated 
haven'' for Alaska's artists. Diana's work was featured in a solo 
exhibit at the Anchorage Museum in 1971 and her work was shown across 
the country. She published six books, served as the vice president of 
the Alaska Council on the Arts and taught art at Homer Community 
College for 10 years. Diana influenced many Alaskans through her 
compassion for art and public service. Her living legacy is apparent 
today through her work, family, and those who were fortunate enough to 
have known her.
  You can go through life and meet thousands of people, but it is rare 
to meet someone as exceptional as Diana. She was a pioneer, in the 
truest sense of the word. A lover of Alaska and the people. Diana 
painted her last picture just 8 days before she passed away. She is 
survived by her husband Clem, their four children, grandchildren, and 
friends. Alaskans back home, myself included, are proud of the legacy 
that is Diana's life and work. The person she was and the beautiful art 
she left with us will forever be cherished.
  On behalf of the U.S. Senate, I am proud to recognize and thank Diana 
Rutzebeck Tillion for her passion for life and her family, her 
originality, and years of giving to her community. I extend my 
condolences and sincere sympathy on her passing to her family, friends, 
and students.

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