Sierra Samaritans - National Ski Patrol

in memoriam
Ted’s happy smile and his willingness
to serve will be sorely missed by all who
called him friend.
Survivors include a son, a daughter,
and seven grandchildren.
REV. JOHN P. BRANDT
NORDIC MOUNTAIN SKI PATROL, WI
JOHN HIGHT
Members of the Snoqualmie and Hyak ski
patrols came together on December 30,
2004, to remember John Hight, a dedicated
patroller and friend, who died on
July 2, 2004. He was 87.
Born in Seattle, Washington, on
October 2, 1916, to John “Jack” Hight and
Harriet “Olive” Crawford Hight, John was
introduced to skiing by a junior high
school teacher, Lyle St. Louis, who later
became the first elected division director
of the Pacific Northwest Division. Hooked
immediately, John made his own pair of
Maplewood skis in shop class, and in 1938
he joined the National Ski Patrol.
In 1941, John joined the U.S. Navy
and served in the South Pacific. One day
the ship captain handed John two letters.
One notified him that he received
National Appointment #545; the other
was a letter from Minnie Dole inviting
John to transfer to the Tenth Mountain
Division of the U.S. Army. John declined
and stayed in the Navy. He served a second
tour during the Korean Conflict.
John adopted a daughter and had a
son with his first wife, Betty, whom he
divorced in 1961. In 1972, he met Norma
while working at Snoqualmie Summit,
and they were married a year later.
During his years as a patroller, John
served as the Pacific Northwest Division
equipment advisor, assistant patrol director,
and patrol director, and was the first
member of the Ski Patrol Rescue Team
(SPART) at Snoqualmie. He also spent
two years as patrol director at Mt. Hyak.
John passed on his love for skiing to
his son and everyone with whom he came
into contact. He will be missed.
FRED HOHEIM
PACIFIC NORTHWEST DIVISION
BARRY KOEHLER
Washington’s Snoqualmie Pass Ski Area
suffered a great loss on August 3, 2004,
when patroller Barry Koehler died in a
plane crash. He was 57.
Barry was piloting a light plane from
Sequim, Washington, on his way to Seattle
when he and two passengers went down in
the Hurricane Ridge area on the Olympic
Peninsula. Those who have known Barry
for many years are shocked and dismayed
that he will not be with us anymore.
An active hiker, biker, blue water
adventure-kayaking tour leader, and pilot,
Barry put his heart in everything he did,
especially patrolling. He joined the
Snoqualmie Pass Ski Patrol in 1980, and
stayed on the team until 1988 when he
moved to Hurricane Ridge. There he
assumed various patrol leadership roles,
serving as assistant duty patrol leader
in 1989, as duty patrol leader from 1990 to
1992, and as patrol director from 1992
to 1995. Always eager to gain more experience,
Barry completed several avalanche
education courses in late 1993 and early
1994. He was also a section chief, an assistant
Ski and Toboggan advisor for the
region, and a member of the division’s
toboggan demonstration team. His sharp
eyes and quick wit will be forever missed;
he was a class act.
Barry is survived by his daughter, Liz,
who is a Senior patroller at Summit West
Ski Area on Snoqualmie Summit.
RUSTY PARNELL
ALPENTAL SKI PATROL, WA
BOB RONNER
It is with deep sadness that members of
the Okemo Ski Patrol in Vermont say
goodbye to Bob Ronner, who died peacefully
in his sleep on September 1, 2004.
Bob joined the Okemo Ski Patrol in
1987. Through the years he became our
mountain’s OEC and CPR/AED instructor.
He had a passion for skiing and for sharing
his love of this sport and his knowledge of
OEC with other skiers and patrollers.
Bob’s passion was not limited to skiing.
He was preparing for his 23rd
marathon. He was also an avid hunter,
fisherman, hiker, sailor, and diver. He
taught his grandchildren about all of his
outdoor sports and took them annually
on as many vacations as their parents and
school teachers would permit.
He was equally attentive to his friends.
From just listening, to offering a place to
stay, Bob was always available to help. His
mountain breakfasts at the top patrol hut
are legendary; he made the best
“McRonner” breakfast sandwiches regularly
and was always planning his next
patrol breakfast or barbeque.
Always smiling, he brightened every
morning meeting with a greeting that
included a hug. And each first run Bob
made down Okemo began by stopping at
a beautiful picturesque knoll, to give
thanks for the privilege of being in such a
beautiful environment. A daily thought
that would be good for all of us to have!
A true man of peace, love, and respect
for all people, Bob will be sorely missed.
JIM MCCALL
OKEMO MOUNTAIN PATROL, VT
WILLIAM R. HARRIS
Eastern Division’s Catamount Ski Patrol
lost one of its most stalwart and dedicated
members when William R. “Rees” Harris,
of Salisbury, Connecticut, died on
September 7, 2004. He was 87.
Rees was a graduate of Williams
College in Williamstown, Massachusetts.
His commitment to emergency services
and skiing was a recurring theme
throughout his life. He enlisted in the
Army in 1942 and served with the Tenth
Mountain Division and the 38th Infantry.
He was awarded numerous ribbons and
medals, including the Bronze Star for
“meritorious achievement in combat.” In
1961 he joined the NSP, serving the
organization as an active ski patroller for
nearly 45 years. For many of those years—
when NSP members still participated in
American Red Cross training programs—
Rees was a first aid and CPR instructor for
his patrol, and he also managed to work as
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W inte r 2005 | Ski Patrol Magazine 55