Julianna Royal Guy

September 15, 1926 - June 25, 2023

Our Aunt Julie, known affectionately as AJ, passed away in Bellingham, Washington. She was born in East Aurora, New York, and spent her last 20 years in Bellingham. Julie was a remarkable individual, known for her leadership skills and her unwavering dedication to making a positive impact in her community. She got to leave us on her own terms, and went 'to fly away in the clouds.'

Throughout her life, Julie was a trailblazer, always planning and striving for success. Julie's calm and succinct nature earned her the respect of those around her, and she never uttered a harsh word or harbored anger towards anyone, except for a certain past President and the new face of the Supreme Court in the wake of Roe v Wade. She even donned a pink hat at a protest about a year ago.

Julie had an insatiable thirst for knowledge and kept up with current affairs across all arenas. She would spend hours each day reading and staying informed. Her commitment to education was evident in her academic achievements. She graduated with a BA in Economics from Pomona College and also took accounting courses at USC and UCLA.

In her professional life, Julie achieved great success across various fields. She began her career as a General Ledger Supervisor at Occidental Life Insurance Company in Los Angeles. She then worked as a Bookkeeper at Lightfoot Studio in Pasadena and her strong analytical skills led her to become an Audit Senior at Arthur Young Company CPAs. She embarked on a career at Chris Craft Television in Hollywood, KCOP TV, starting as a Systems Analyst and working her way up to become the Director of Business Affairs. She later served as a Broadcast Consultant to Northern TV in Anchorage, Alaska and also worked as a Supervisor of the Audit Staff at Laventhol and Horwath, CPAs. Then Western Regional Controller, KVOS-TV and Wometco Theaters in Alaska and Bellingham, Washington.

In 1979 she became the Station Manager at KCPQ-TV in Tacoma-Seattle and she then served as the Deputy Commissioner for Telecommunications for the State of Alaska. She established her own business, Royal Guy Associates, providing broadcast consulting services. She later served as the CFO of The Computer Group and Northern Television. Julie's career reached its pinnacle when she became the President and General Manager of Northern Television, overseeing KTVA-TV, KNIK-FM, and KBYR-AM. She concluded her professional journey as the President and CEO of the Alaska Public Radio Network .She retired in 2010.

Julie was a trailblazer for women. Often for women in broadcasting, and for all women in so many other fields. She mentored many young women still in college or starting various careers, supporting each as the strong women she saw in each of them, and helping them find their voice. Outside of her professional life, Julie found joy in various interests. She was an avid news watcher, always staying informed about current events. Julie also enjoyed reading and writing letters. However, in her later years, her true passion lay in advocating for the creation of parks and libraries and a community garden in the north end of Bellingham. She belonged to two book clubs and traveled with her Roadrunners crew in Alaska.

Julie will be deeply missed by her surviving family members, including nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her parents, four brothers, and her former husband, Robert Guy.

Legacy Remembers, July 4, 2023