Franz Schonberg

In this Spring 2025 interview for Mr. Shumway’s Senior Alaska History class at Petersburg High School, Franz Schonberg speaks with student Izabella Tarquino about the legacy of his great-uncle, Bob Thorstenson, Sr.—a pioneering figure in Petersburg’s history and the Pacific Northwest fishing industry. In the 1960s, Thorstenson became an investor and leader in a single fish processing plant in Petersburg, Alaska that eventually grew into the global company Icicle Seafoods. Franz reflects on the values, grit, and personal sacrifices that fueled this success. He also discusses how the story came full circle in 2025 when Icicle Seafoods was acquired by Silver Bay Seafoods, a modern, fisherman-owned company now at the forefront of Alaska’s salmon processing industry.