At a Glance
A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick F. McManus. He’s a humorist. It kind of reminds me of me and some of the kids I used to hang around with when I was growing up.
What movie do you recommend to everyone?
The Revenant—I thought that was done really well and had a lot of different things going for it. And the bear attack was very well done. That’s how I imagine something like that would go.
What’s the first thing you do after work?
I usually change my clothes and go out into the garage. I make things. Some crafty, some artsy. That’s how I wind-down.
If you couldn’t live in Alaska, where would you live?
Definitely by the water, possibly tropical, but definitely on saltwater.
If you could domesticate a wild animal what animal would it be?
Maybe a snow leopard. I know it’s not possible, but in a dream world, snow leopards. They’re not too big, usually not too much over 100 pounds. They are one of the most gorgeous cats in the world. And they are cats, so you’re pond scum to them and they rule the world [he laughs].
At a Glance
A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick F. McManus. He’s a humorist. It kind of reminds me of me and some of the kids I used to hang around with when I was growing up.
What movie do you recommend to everyone?
The Revenant—I thought that was done really well and had a lot of different things going for it. And the bear attack was very well done. That’s how I imagine something like that would go.
What’s the first thing you do after work?
I usually change my clothes and go out into the garage. I make things. Some crafty, some artsy. That’s how I wind-down.
If you couldn’t live in Alaska, where would you live?
Definitely by the water, possibly tropical, but definitely on saltwater.
If you could domesticate a wild animal what animal would it be?
Maybe a snow leopard. I know it’s not possible, but in a dream world, snow leopards. They’re not too big, usually not too much over 100 pounds. They are one of the most gorgeous cats in the world. And they are cats, so you’re pond scum to them and they rule the world [he laughs].
Off the Cuff
atrick Lampi has been with the Alaska Zoo for the past thirty-three years. He got his start working nights as a zookeeper in 1986 when the zoo was much smaller. “The thing I liked about [that time] is the zoo would close at 6 p.m., even in the summer… so for the last few hours of the day it was just me at the zoo with the animals. It was very relaxing.” Lampi was promoted to curator in 1993 and to his current position of executive director in 2005. Being executive director is “not so zen,” he says laughingly, but interesting and important nonetheless.
“The zoo wouldn’t be here without the community. It’s a private nonprofit, but it’s a community zoo. It’s not just the city of Anchorage, the whole state is involved. We’ve taken in animals from every corner of the state and we’ve had kids come from every corner of the state…It’s a real pleasure to be a part of this team and watch it grow and evolve. It will be very interesting to see where it goes.”
Patrick Lampi: In the summer I like to play a little golf, fish, hike. In the winter, a little cross-country skiing, but I also like to work on my arts and crafts too.
AB: Is there a skill or talent you’ve always wanted to learn or are learning?
Lampi: I would love to learn to play a musical instrument. But I just really don’t have any talent. I learned to play the harmonica once and I learned two songs. I went on a long hunting trip with some very good friends and I think on the second day they told me I better not pull out the harmonica because they didn’t want to hear those songs ever again in their lives [he laughs].
AB: What’s the most daring thing you’ve ever done?
Lampi: Probably something here at the zoo. We had a black bear get out during a storm. He wasn’t fully grown, but I had this idea that I could just walk him back and I wouldn’t have to [tranquilize] dart him. And it worked. I decided I’d give it a try and I got him to follow me back into the keeper area and we closed that door and opened up the den and then he just went waltzing into the den on his own. It worked that time. I don’t know if I’d try it again.
AB: What’s your go-to comfort food?
Lampi: Apple fritter.
AB: Other than your current career, if you were a kid today, what would your dream job be?
Lampi: Something to do with scuba diving. I learned to scuba dive in high school. Something like an underwater archaeologist would be fascinating.
AB: What’s your favorite way to exercise?
Lampi: Probably hiking, a little golf, cross country skiing.
AB: Dead or alive, who would you like to see perform live in concert?
Lampi: Jason Aldean or The Rolling Stones.
AB: What’s your greatest extravagance?
Lampi: My tools [he laughs]… over the years I have collected quite a few.
AB: What’s your best and worst attribute?
Lampi: I can be stubborn. I know that. I also think I’m pretty darn patient, too. 
