David R. Hanning, an alumnus of the Swain Ski Patrol in Swain, New York, died July 13, 2025 at the Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center in Greece, NY at the age of 98.
David joined the National Ski Patrol in 1964 and patrolled for 40 years, serving with distinction as an Assistant Patrol Director, Membership Chairman, Outdoor Emergency Transportation and Mountain Travel and Rescue instructor, and Western New York Region Chairlift Evacuation Program Administrator.
He became a senior patroller in 1966 after passing the senior ski & toboggan test during the blizzard of 1966 that left all the senior candidates and examiners stranded in the storm and unable to travel home for two days.
For his ski patrol leadership and dedicated service to the skiing public he received National Appointment Number 7099 in 1989 and the National Ski Patrol Distinguished Service Award in 2004. Upon his ski patrol retirement, the David Hanning Commendation Award was established in his honor to be awarded for cumulative career contributions to the Swain Ski Patrol.
In 1998, David initiated and managed the dedication ceremony and installation of graveside granite stones and brass plaques he had designed to commemorate Minnie Dole’s founding of the National Ski Patrol and the 10th Mountain Division. He arranged for the presence of NSP officials and 10th Mountain Division soldiers as well as members of the Dole family at the Paul Smiths, NY, cemetery celebration and co-authored an article describing the event that was published in the Fall 1998 Ski Patrol Magazine.
David was born in Saranac Lake, NY in 1927 and enlisted in the army upon high school graduation in 1945. Assigned to the 24th Infantry Division, he was sent to Yale University to study Japanese and was deployed to post-war Japan to interpret for army engineers overseeing the dismantling of fortifications and to inspect manufacturing plants for detection of munitions and weapons assembly.
Upon his return to the states, he served in the Army Reserve 98th Infantry Division and retired as a Lieutenant Colonel. He worked at Eastman Kodak in Rochester, NY for 34 years retiring in 1986 as Unit Director of the Materials Management Division.
David was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed hunting, fishing, sailing, and skiing. His hunting excursions included many trips out west in search of big game and birds with fellow patrollers and hunters.
He was an avid America’s Cup fan and traveled to Newport, RI to experience crewing the Weatherly after that vessel’s retirement from racing. David was a long-time member of the Rochester Ski Club, completing many of their trips over the years, especially his favorite annual trek to Sunday River.
David was preceded in death by his wife Jean Conheady Hanning, his eldest son, Paul Hanning, and his two stepsons Steven and Scott (Trucker) Wright. He is survived by his wife Korleen Dickinson, his son Stephen (Donna) Hanning, daughter Shauna (Ernest) Newcomb, daughter Maura (Kenneth) Hanning Sims, stepchildren Sheryl (Earl) Dunbar and Shellee Wright, and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren.
David’s exemplary ski patrol accomplishments made him an inspiring role model for young patrol candidates and seasoned patrollers alike. David was a loyal friend to his fellow patrollers and his engaging personality, quick-witted humor, admirable leadership, and personal generosity will be remember fondly by all who knew him.
