Barbara (Barba) Priore, a beloved member of the Kissing Bridge Ski Patrol in Western New York, passed away on April 10, 2026, after a brief illness.
Barbara and her husband, Robert, joined the patrol in 1980, beginning a legacy of service that would span decades. Known for her warmth, humor, and unwavering dedication, Barbara quickly became an integral part of the patrol community.
She held the classification of Alpine Patroller and was especially passionate about education. As an Outdoor Emergency Care (OEC) instructor, she took great pride in mentoring new patrol candidates each year. Her creative teaching style—famously incorporating crossword puzzles to reinforce OEC material—left a lasting impression on countless trainees.
Barbara was widely regarded as the patrol’s expert in infant emergency care and CPR, a role she carried with both expertise and compassion. Her willingness to help was unmatched; she was the kind of person who never said no when asked for support.
Barbara was recognized by the Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol (NSP) as a long-tenured patroller who consistently went above and beyond in her duties. Although she did not pursue leadership roles at the patrol or regional level, her dedication and service were honored with the Eastern Division Patroller Achievement Award. In 2013, in recognition of her outstanding contributions to the patrol system as a whole, Barbara was further honored with the National Ski Patrol’s Distinguished Service Award.
Throughout her years of service, she completed extensive training in Outdoor Emergency Care including refresher modules, avalanche safety, instructor development, and incident command. She remained actively involved in instructor activities, skills days, and refresher courses alongside her fellow patrol family.
Beyond her work with the ski patrol, Barbara dedicated over 20 years to the Theater of Youth, where she served as Head of Wardrobe, contributing her creativity and care to countless productions. She also more recently became co-owner of the Spotted Octopus Brewing Company with locations in Buffalo and Rochester, NY.
Barbara is survived by her husband of 45 years, Robert; her children, Sarah Priore and Robert Priore; sisters Bonnie Redder, Johann Clancy, Diane Leigh, and Ellen Kisker; brother Richard Kisker; and 16 cherished nieces and nephews. She will be deeply missed by all who had the privilege of knowing her.
Her legacy of kindness, service, and mentorship will continue to live on in the many lives she touched.
Dr. Daniel Barletta, NA #140391
Kissing Bridge Ski Patrol
