Grace Schaible: a woman of many faces: this former attorney general gives her time to a variety of endeavors.

• Author: Parmelee, Catherine
• Position: Junior Achievement Special Section

If "Grace Schaible" appeared the dictionary, "exceptional civic responsibility" would likely be her definition.

Schaible is well known for her generous contributions of time, finances and personal property to nonprofit and educational organizations throughout the state, and she is an active supporter of the arts as well.

Although many might define Schaible by her outstanding civic responsibility, she is actually a woman driven by passion.

"My real passion is polar bears," she said. "The rest of what I do is because it is fun and/or I consider it important."

Schaible spends a lot of time traveling for pleasure, which includes excursions geared toward polar bear watching, mostly outside of the state. It is difficult to imagine how she fits it in; her calendar is packed with meetings. Today, the polar bear fan also serves on the Alaska Permanent Fund Corp. board of trustees, in addition to a number of corporate, government, educational, arts and other advisory boards throughout the state. She is also active in Rotary.

"I like to give back to the community," she said. Schaible's definition of community encompasses the entire state of Alaska.

In 1996, Schaible was named Outstanding Philanthropist of the Year by the state chapter of the National Society of Fund Raising Executives. Furthermore, she is a long-standing contributor to the state's institution of higher education system and benefactress of a generous fund created to help enrich the University of Alaska's museum in Fairbanks.

She makes her home in Fairbanks, but spends a lot of time in Anchorage. However, in Alaska's deepest, darkest and coldest days she flies south-all the way to Sitka. "I'm a true Alaskan snowbird," she said.

In season and out, Schaible remains active in a group dedicated to the historic activities of Sheldon Jackson College in Sitka. "I'm the only non-Sitkan in the group," Schaible said.

Schaible is more than a true Alaskan snowbird; she is a true Alaskan. Prior to her birth, Schaible's parents lived in Juneau. However, her mother slipped south long enough for Tacoma, Wash., to appear on Grace Schaible's birth certificate, and then they quickly returned to Alaska. So Schaible was raised in Juneau, graduating from its high school in 1943. Six years later she earned a degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and then worked for a short stint as a secretary for Charles Bunnell, the university's founding president. Schaible next traveled east, earning a Yale law...