Joe Racanelli was a ski patroller at Stratton Mountain, Vermont from 1977-1981. He passed away at the age of 84 on July 25, 2024, on Long Island, New York. Joe considered himself a “full-time volunteer,” skiing as often as he could.
Joe was born into a multi-generational family construction business on Long Island. He was one of six brothers. His son, Brian, reported that Joe loved to hike and ski. On a trip to Tuckerman Ravine, Joe fell and broke his leg. He had it set and cast in New Hampshire, then drove himself back to Long Island. ‘
Arriving home, he sat in his car and repeatedly blew the horn. When his family came out to the driveway to investigate the commotion, they found that Joe needed to be lifted from the car because of the large cast on his leg.
Joe insisted on repeating the Tuckerman adventure the following year. He hiked in, climbed, skied down, and was pleased that he didn’t suffer the same fate as the last time.
When not skiing, Joe often played golf in Vermont at Haystack Mountain and, in later years, at Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Joe is survived by his brothers John, Eugene, and Anthony; his wife Patricia; daughters Connie and Jenny, and son Brian, as well as seven grandchildren.
