Anyone who knew Alison Heidemann knew that for her small stature she was incharge. When she talked, her hands would be flying around in the air. Never had a conversation with her where she didn't talk with her hands. Though once I did see her stop mid sentence and the hands were frozen in the air. I was working in the Pipeline Task Force office at Bragaw Street. Alison had obtained authorization for her and 2 other Administration Clerks to go with me to visit the north end of the Pipeline. We flew out to Fairbanks and started our trek north. Alison rode shotgun. It was uneventful from Fairbanks to Pump 7,6 and 5 where we overnighted. The next morning we were going to tackle Chandalar Shelf and Atigun Pass then onto Pump 1. Everything was going fine Alison talking and hands waving. Stopped a few times t take pictures. I started down the north face of Atigun Pass. This is about March time frame, late 80's early 90's. The road is still frozen with slush on top. As we started down, the road curves to the east. There were two semi trucks one had slid into the ditch on the east side. The other truck was pulling him out of the ditch. I touched my brakes and the crew cab we were in slid to the west. Alison froze. Hands frozen in the air. Not a peep out of the three of them as I navigated around the semi's. Each time I touched the brakes we would slide a bit more to the west. Alison stayed frozen till we were down out of the pass. Her hands frozen in the air till I looked over to her and I remember saying "That was fun". Then the hands took off and chatter started back up till we arrived at Pump 4. The rest of the trip was uneventful as we visited Pump Stations 4,3,2,1 and then caught our evening flight out of Deadhorse to Anchorage. That is the only time she was ever quiet for 5 to 10 minutes when she was with me.
I'm sure she is still incharge conversing with all of our Alyeska friends that have passed before us. She was a great friend and I am sorry we had lost touch with one another over the last 20 years. Rest easy my friend.
Alison was a very special person. She ran her position with the pipeline management as a team player. She always protected her management group from outside negativity . She will be sorely missed.
Debbie Pauloski (Miller)
Anyone who knew Alison Heidemann knew that for her small stature she was incharge. When she talked, her hands would be flying around in the air. Never had a conversation with her where she didn't talk with her hands. Though once I did see her stop mid sentence and the hands were frozen in the air. I was working in the Pipeline Task Force office at Bragaw Street. Alison had obtained authorization for her and 2 other Administration Clerks to go with me to visit the north end of the Pipeline. We flew out to Fairbanks and started our trek north. Alison rode shotgun. It was uneventful from Fairbanks to Pump 7,6 and 5 where we overnighted. The next morning we were going to tackle Chandalar Shelf and Atigun Pass then onto Pump 1. Everything was going fine Alison talking and hands waving. Stopped a few times t take pictures. I started down the north face of Atigun Pass. This is about March time frame, late 80's early 90's. The road is still frozen with slush on top. As we started down, the road curves to the east. There were two semi trucks one had slid into the ditch on the east side. The other truck was pulling him out of the ditch. I touched my brakes and the crew cab we were in slid to the west. Alison froze. Hands frozen in the air. Not a peep out of the three of them as I navigated around the semi's. Each time I touched the brakes we would slide a bit more to the west. Alison stayed frozen till we were down out of the pass. Her hands frozen in the air till I looked over to her and I remember saying "That was fun". Then the hands took off and chatter started back up till we arrived at Pump 4. The rest of the trip was uneventful as we visited Pump Stations 4,3,2,1 and then caught our evening flight out of Deadhorse to Anchorage. That is the only time she was ever quiet for 5 to 10 minutes when she was with me.
I'm sure she is still incharge conversing with all of our Alyeska friends that have passed before us. She was a great friend and I am sorry we had lost touch with one another over the last 20 years. Rest easy my friend.
Frank Heffernan
God bless and rest her soul.
Neil Umatum
Alison was a very special person. She ran her position with the pipeline management as a team player. She always protected her management group from outside negativity . She will be sorely missed.