David J. Pritchard
Jan 16, 1948 - Sep 25, 2025
David John Pritchard was born January 16, 1948 in Lewisham, UK. He passed away September 25, 2025 in Victoria, BC, Canada with his wife Carolyn at his side.
David’s family moved to Uganda when he was four years old. He attended Entebbe Primary School and the Duke of York School in Nairobi. At 16, returned to the UK to study for his A level finals and admission to Cambridge University, from which he received an MA degree in Mechanical Sciences in 1969. He was immediately hired by BP to work in Libya.
David had a long and distinguished career in the oil industry. During his thirty years with SOHIO and BP, he held operational, engineering, and executive positions in North Africa, the Middle East, the UK, Alaska and other US locations. In Alaska, he oversaw development of Endicott, the first offshore oil field in the Arctic Ocean, and managed BP’s interests and operations in Prudhoe Bay.
He served as president of Alyeska Pipeline Service Company before taking on international assignments as president of BP Azerbaijan and later, Azerbaijan International Oil Company. Subsequently, he worked as a consultant for a number of years.
Upon retirement, David and his first wife Anita returned to Anchorage where he continued his consulting work and pursued volunteer interests. Anita died from cancer in 2005. In 2012, David married Carolyn Anketell, a former neighbor from his childhood in Uganda
He moved to Victoria, BC, Canada to join her, following the with whom he had reconnected.ir marriage. David was a devoted
husband to Carolyn and to Anita.
David valued the friendships he made, maintaining connections with work colleagues and others over decades and across continents. He was endlessly curious and genuinely interested in what others had to share. David was valued for his generosity and kindness, quietly helping individuals and organizations. As a leader at BP, he enthusiastically participated in the company’s community efforts. He continued to volunteer upon his bretirement, including service to Providence Hospital and the Anchorage Opera Foundation.
David leaves behind his wife, Carolyn; brothers, Robert (Dorte) and Trevor (Julie); his brothers’ children and grandchildren; daughter, Fallon Pritchard; granddaughter, Raylin Phlem; and stepdaughter, Emma Thomas.
Family will hold a small service and burial in Victoria. A Celebration of Life is planned for Anchorage at a later date.
Published on October 22, 2025 in Anchorage Daily News, Anchorage, Alaska
Mel Jessee
David came to Alyeska at a difficult time in our history on heels of "Hamel-Gate", whistleblowers and Congressional Hearings. He came in after Jim Hermiller left in 1993 and was President until Bob Malone came in during 1996. I remember when I first saw David I thought he looked like the devil...but after talking with him, I found him to be an engaging and thoughtful person.
Rest in Peace David!
Linda Powell
David was a smart, funny and generous man. Alyeska was struggling after the oil spill and congressional hearings. He brought common sense leadership at a time when that was the best way to survive and gave us a sense that the pipeline could have a bright future. My funniest memory of him is when I worked in Corporate Communications and we were videotaping an interview for the employee video newsletter called "Newsline." As we were setting up, I looked at him and saw that he had wild long eyebrow hairs sticking up which weren't really noticeable in person but would really not work in a closeup interview. So I had to get up the courage to say "Do this!" And I used my two fingers to smooth my own eyebrows down. It took him a second, but he got it, and did it, and we went forward as if that moment had never happened. I am so sorry to hear of his passing. May his memory be a blessing.
Cathy Girard
David Pritchard was my first Alyeska president. At that time in Alyeska's history, it was common to have presidents from owner companies and with that ownership came a level of anxiety for Alyeska employees. David Pritchard endured a lot of hardship during that time, inheriting from the previous president (from ARCO) a significant whistle-blower investigation, allegations around underpayment of oil royalties, and a barrage of external audits (Owen Thoreau, BLM, NEC, etc.) which generated over 5000 audit findings that needed resolution. I joined Alyeska in 1994 to address the environmental-related findings on the northern end of the pipeline and linewide when applicable. I remember watching David Pritchard on the television while he testified under oath to Congress about the allegations levied towards Alyeska. I was extremely new and many rungs removed from him, but I remember feeling curious towards this leader who developed an ability to remain cool under pressure...and yet you could see and feel that this spotlight was anything but comfortable. As Mel Jessee stated, I saw David Pritchard as a bit sinister but was happy to have that opinion challenged during a brief meeting. I met him in person in the cafeteria at the BOC in Prudhoe Bay; after inquiring what I did for Alyeska, he warmly shared his and his wife's passion for bird rehabilitation. They had built a massive, outdoor enclosure in their Hillside backyard to care for injured birds that could never be released into the wild. If you know about caring for injured birds, you know it's a full time job and an absolute labor of love. I could tell that David was devoted to his wife and had a soft side that most of us might not have otherwise seen in our work lives due to the heavy responsibilities his bore as our company's executive.
Thank you for trying to do your best by Alyeska, David. RIP.
Bill Howitt
I certainly agree with other's comments about David. He was a complex man and was initially hard to get to know. When he first came to Alyeska he was the most difficult Alyeska President that I had ever worked for.,,and that's saying a lot because I worked for them all and there were some real characters. At the time I was heading up Human Resources and had the task of telling David point blank that some of the things he wanted to do were not allowed by law or regulation either at the Federal or State level. He bristled, but I realize now that he appreciated someone who didn't roll over. After we got that straightened out our relationship became much better and in his last years I came to like him a bit. I have to say he genuinely wanted the best for Alyeska and the Alyeska employees and contractors. He just had a different way of going about it. After we had both retired, we corresponded frequently. He seemed more a ease with the world and his place in it. Rest in peace David.