As a booster, a volunteer and a fan, the contributions of Peter Hupperten [1984-2015] were invaluable to Seawolf Athletics. Hupperten passed away Jan. 12, 2015 at the age of 94.
A longtime insurance broker in Anchorage, Hupperten began his association with UAA in 1984, founding the Benton Bay Athletic Lions Club and forming an immediate partnership with the Seawolves. Clad in their familiar gold bibs, Benton Bay members have been a fixture at all UAA contests since, volunteering over 15,000 hours and raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Seawolf Athletics.
In 1984-85, Hupperten and the Lions began another tradition by teaming with UAA to start the Athlete of the Year program, now known as the Bill MacKay Athlete of the Year. Along with then-athletic director Ron Petro, he was also instrumental in founding the Seawolf Booster Club, now known as the Seawolf Athletic Association.
Starting with the 1985-86 campaign, Hupperten volunteered his services in yet another capacity, becoming the official videographer for Seawolf hockey, and continuing in that role until his ‘retirement’ in 2011 – at age 90.
A native of Spokane, Wash., Hupperten played football at Washington State University, earning his B.S., in police science in 1942. Commissioned as a lieutenant, he served in World War II in the South Pacific and China, and in the Chinese Civil War.
Following his long military service, he worked for USF&G in both Portland and Seattle, where he was a pioneer for girls’ high school sports during the 1960s. Hupperten moved to Anchorage in 1966 and joined the Spenard Lions Club one year later.
Hupperten is survived by his two children, Barbara Plovie and Peter G. Hupperten III, and his wife Karan.
