In Memoriam – Gregg Goldstrohm
Gregg Goldstrohm was many things to many people, son, husband, father, grandfather, orthopedic surgeon, firefighter, lifeguard, gardener, cattle farmer. To the Seven Springs Ski Patrol, he was a ski patroller. A darn good ski patroller.
Gregg joined Seven Springs Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, as a candidate in 2000, going alumnus in 2018. He worked the mountain every Saturday and Gregg worked hard. On a busy Saturday, he would continuously ski injured guests to the Patrol Base, never taking a break. Gregg cared for those guests as if they were patients in his own practice.
He spent time explaining the injury to the patient and then to the patrollers working the Patrol Base. He was kind, considerate and caring to everyone. Gregg was not one to care about awards, however, during his career, he earned a Purple Merit Star and a Blue Merit Star. He was also an OEC Instructor.
Gregg would start his shift by dropping off some special baked goods that he baked from scratch. His brownies were a crowd favorite. What Gregg enjoyed most about being a Patroller was the camaraderie. On a slow spring afternoon, you would catch Gregg and other patrollers on duty, kicked back on the porch of one of the huts, enjoying the sun and sharing some tall tales. They swapped a lot of stories. Gregg could talk to anyone about anything.
Days after the Boston Marathon bombing, the Western Appalachian Region was contacted by the Medical Director of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) and asked to assist as First Responders for the Pittsburgh Marathon. As an orthopedic surgeon, Gregg could have participated under UPMC. But instead, he volunteered as a Ski Patroller.
Gregg continued his membership in National Ski Patrol until his death in October 2024.