Richard (Dick) Massucco, a patroller at Stratton Mountain, VT was honored for his 67th year of service to NSP. Division Director Grant Fullman personally presented Dick with his Service Award at Stratton’s refresher held on November 2. At the presentation, Grant commented that he was only three years old when Dick started patrolling!
Dick started on the ski patrol at Otis Ridge in Massachusetts in 1957 and passed his Senior test at Mt. Tom, Holyoke, MA. He skied on the Otis Ridge Patrol in Otis, MA through 1970. Then it was off to Pittsburgh, PA for work and a stint on the Seven Springs Patrol in Champion, PA. In 1972 Dick joined the Stratton Mountain Patrol after meeting a woman who just happened to have a Stratton season pass!
Dick achieved Circle A certification (now AVY I) in 1970, and his Avalanche “rocker” (now AVY II) in 1971 at Mt. Washington in New Hampshire. He also completed a Mountaineering course (now MTR I) at Stratton in the early 2000s.
Dick remains active on the patrol, assisting with patient transports and toboggan bag logistics. He is very serious about how toboggan bags are packed and ensures new patrollers “do it right or do it over!”
Congratulations to Dick Massucco for his devotion to the NSP mission.
