by Jeff Paston, CNY Historian | Dec 18, 2024 | In Memoriam
Song Mountain Ski Patrol in the Central New York Region of Eastern Division has lost another former patrol leader. Doug Scharbach, who served on the Song patrol for more than 30 years, passed away at his home in Manlius, NY, on November 14, 2024. He was 90.
Doug was the Song patrol leader between 1988 and 1990. He was well respected and known for his low-key demeanor; traits he no doubt developed from his service in the US Navy and later as a manager in the lumber business. It was at one of his jobs that he saved an employee’s life in 1979 using skills learned on the ski patrol. For that action, the NSP awarded Doug a Purple Merit Star, and the Eastern Division bestowed him with its William Gross Memorial Award.
A graduate of the New York State School of Forestry at Syracuse University in 1955, Doug enlisted in the Navy and served as an ensign following Officer Candidate School (OCS). His Naval career placed him as a maintenance officer in two squadrons on and off aircraft carriers on the east coast and on the Mediterranean during the ‘Turkey Crisis’ of 1957-58. He was discharged as a LTJG in 1959 and moved to Norwich, NY, taking a job as assistant sales manager at a lumber company. He became a Deacon at his church, president of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in building a small ski area there called Penguin Peak.
In 1965, he took a new job and relocated to Manlius. He joined the ski patrol, where he used his leadership skills to further enjoyment of skiing and the outdoors. To that end, he also enjoyed sailing, canoeing, hiking, climbing the Adirondack High Peaks, camping, golfing, fishing, and hunting. He loved woodworking, building furniture, and making holiday decorations.
But most importantly, Doug enjoyed his family. A native of Schenectady, he married his childhood sweetheart Lynn and they were together for 69 years. Both would agree that their lives were strengthened and enhanced by membership in their church.
He is survived by Lynn and their three daughters, LeeAnn, Heidi, and Gretchen; five grandchildren; three great-granddaughters; and a sister.
by Jeff Paston, CNY Historian | Sep 14, 2024 | In Memoriam
A much beloved and respected former patrol leader of the Song Mountain Ski Patrol in the Central New York Region passed away at the age of 92. Ron Marks, National #5799, died on August 11, 2024 in an assisted living facility in Napierville, IL, where his son’s family lives.
Ron was a NSP member for about 20 years, serving at two CNY Region patrols — Mystic Mountain and Song Mountain. He was patrol leader at Mystic during 1973 and ‘74. He also joined Song in those years. At Song, Ron served as patrol leader from 1983 to 1988. He was awarded his National Appointment in 1981.
He was a science teacher at Jordan-Elbridge Central Schools near Syracuse for more than 30 years. In fact, Ron convinced one of his former students, Bill Hamilton, who also became a teacher and taught with Ron in the mid-1980s, to join the Song Ski Patrol. Bill noted how much he enjoyed skiing with Ron, how much he enjoyed Ron’s sense of humor, and how often he thinks of his former teacher and fellow patroller.
In 1989, Ron and his wife “Doje” (Dorothy) decided to move south in retirement. They settled in Emerald Isle, NC. They were a team for 65 years until Doje passed away in 2020. Their family noted how the two enjoyed the outdoors, camping, hiking, canoeing, and kayaking. Over the years, they climbed the highest 46 peaks in New York’s Adirondack Mountains, earning them membership in the unique “Forty-Sixers” club.
As a community-focused volunteer, Ron also served as a tennis coach, Boy Scout leader, paramedic, and firefighter. In North Carolina, he and Doje continued that support, joining the volunteer EMS squad for almost 20 more years.
Ron’s training paid off at Song Mountain in 1983 when he and fellow patroller Kurt Lavin earned Purple Merit Stars for saving the life of a skier whose femoral artery was cut by a ski in a collision with another skier.
Ron is survived by a daughter, son, sister, sister-in-law, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Contributions may be given in Ron’s name to the Alzheimers Association.
by Jeff Paston, CNY Historian | Mar 24, 2024 | In Memoriam
The Central New York Region remembers a dedicated ski patroller and physician in William D. “Bill” Nugent, who passed away at the age of 94 on February 24, 2024. For more than two decades, starting in 1968, Bill patrolled at Labrador Mountain, and as a medical doctor, offered many ski patrol training sessions and advice to the patrols in the former Syracuse Section. Bill was known for his wit, his great sense of humor, and ability as a storyteller. He epitomized a generation of patrol leadership in Central New York. Bill was awarded National Appointment 4467 in 1974.
Bill graduated from what is now Upstate Medical Center in 1957 and became a hard-working anesthesiologist at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse until 2005. When he retired at age 76, many people lauded him as a life saver and a hero. He never hesitated to share his expert medical knowledge with the ski patrol or to his neighbors. During his career, he served as president of the Central New York Chapter of the American Heart Association, and president of the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists.
In addition to his love of skiing and the ski patrol, Bill was also a lifetime member of the Grasse River Outdoors Club in northern New York state, where he spent time and made many friendships. He was an avid hunter, lover of water, ducks, and dogs. Bill was also a collector of carved wooden ducks.
Dr. Nugent is survived by his wife Donna; eight children: Kim, William, Kelly, Kristin, Megan, Keri, Ryan, and Patrick; 21 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.
by Jeff Paston, CNY Historian | Mar 24, 2024 | In Memoriam
A former patrol leader and section officer in the Central New York Region died at the age of 100 on December 6, 2023. Catherine “Kay” Seibert dedicated two decades of service to the NSP, having served for many years as the former Syracuse Section’s public information advisor and secretary, the last patrol leader of the former Intermont Ski Area in Cortland County (1974), and a Toggenburg patroller from 1974 until the late 1980s. She first joined the National Ski Patrol in 1968 at Intermont.
Kay worked at Niagara Mohawk Power Corp. for 35 years. She served on the board of directors of the Power Federal Credit Union for 21 years and was a past president.
Ski patrol wasn’t Kay’s only passion. She was an avid golfer. Kay also cared deeply for cats and devoted her later years as an active member of the CNY Cat Coalition, where she served as a board member for eight years. She felt her mission was placing healthy abandoned cats in loving homes.
by Jeff Paston, CNY Historian | Mar 24, 2024 | In Memoriam
Sometimes you never realize just how distinguished a fellow patroller may be as you share life experiences on the slopes, but rarely anywhere else. Volker Weiss was an accomplished patroller whose life story was astounding. He was 93 when he died on November 7, 2023, after fighting cancer for two years.
Volker skied 37 years with the Toggenburg Ski Patrol in the CNY Region (1962-1999), serving as patrol leader in 1971, and was awarded National Appointment 5338 in 1978. He was an avid sportsman, enjoying skiing, sailing, tennis, golf, and hiking. Somehow, Volker also found time to be a talented musician as a guitarist, accordion and recorder performer, and singer. He served a term as board member of the Syracuse Friends of Chamber Music. He was president of the Rotary Club of Syracuse for many years.
Born and raised in Austria, Volker and his family fled their hometown during World War II, and hid from the Nazis for two years in the Austrian Alps. After the war, he completed his undergraduate studies in Vienna, moving to Syracuse, where he completed a master’s and a doctorate at Syracuse University by 1959.
He joined the faculty of SU’s Department of Chemical Engineering and Metallurgy and became a professor. He became chair of his department, was associate dean of the engineering college, and later became director of SU’s Institute of Energy Research. From 1978 to 1986, Volker was vice president for research and graduate affairs. Under his leadership, external funding for SU researchers nearly doubled. Volker reorganized the SU graduate school and founded the journal Syracuse Scholar.
He had authored more than 70 publications on metallurgy, and materials evaluation and fatigue by the time he retired in 1996. In retirement, Volker continued to do research for such clients as the U.S. Army Research Laboratory, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Carrier Corporation, and Ford Motor Company. He was a fellow of the American Society of Metals; and shared the U.S. patent related to self-monitoring metals, alloys, and materials. Volker also earned recognition by NASA, NATO, and the Fulbright Program.
Volker was predeceased by his wife Peg. He is survived by sons Erick (who was a ski patroller for four years) and Christopher; and four grandchildren.
