Joseph James Mosa, 96, of the Weatogue section of Simsbury, CT, beloved husband of Jean (Seymour) Mosa died Thursday, December 5, 2024, at his home. He was born March 5, 1928, in Somerville, MA, the son of the late Joseph Anthony Mosa and Frances Mosa, and had lived in Weatogue for over 60 years. Joe was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Korean War.
Joe graduated from Kansas State University with a Master’s degree in Education. He was a teacher, coach, and Athletic Director at Conard High School for the town of West Hartford until his retirement in 1995. Joe was also a member of the Geritol Swingers golf group at Simsbury Farms Golf Course. Most of all Joe had passion for his family.
The Butternut Patrol gathered with family and friends to share stories and celebrate Joe Mosa’s life, a man whose passion for skiing and unwavering dedication to ski patrol defined his journey. He lived a life filled with purpose, where the safety of others was paramount. His ultimate goal was always to teach, demonstrate, and acknowledge his team called the Butternut Ski Patrol.
Joe had a lifelong passion for skiing. He joined the ski patrol in 1966. rising to become the patrol director at Ski Butternut in Great Barrington, MA. During his 35 years of patrolling, he achieved his senior patroller status and took courses in Avalanche and Mountain Travel and Rescue. In 1975 he was awarded National Appointment #4727 and in 2002 a Distinguished Service Award. After retiring from active patrolling, he joined the National Ski Patrol’s Alumni Association running an annual alumni event hosted at Butternut. He was invited to join the Dinosaurs, an invitation-only group of retired ski patrol leaders that gathers annually to tell tall tales and reminisce. He continued skiing until his death, always stopping to say hi in the patrol room.
In addition to his wife of 70 years, he is survived by his daughter Deborah Mosa and her husband John Connors of Northport, NY, his daughter Leslie Pelzar and her husband Chris of Simsbury, CT, his granddaughter Lindsay and her husband Michael of Scituate, MA, and his precious great-granddaughter and playmate Taylor Margaret. Joe is also survived by his brother Anthony Mosa of Essex, CT, his sister Marion Kerrigan of Franklin, MA, and many wonderful nieces and nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to Butternut Ski Patrol, 380 State Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230 or butternut.myskipatrol.org.
It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our own. Ron “RD” Dallago conducted his final sweep on December 23, 2024. RD joined the Blue Mountain Ski Patrol in 1990 and over the years served in many roles. There are very few patrollers in the Eastern PA Region and Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol system and even fewer at Blue Mountain Resort that he hasn’t helped in some way. He will be greatly missed by many!
Ron, 76, of Northampton, PA, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 23, 2024, at Lehigh Valley Hospital Inpatient Hospice Care in Allentown, PA. Born September 18, 1948, in Allentown, PA, he was the son of the late Norman Dallago and the late Isabelle (Matuskowitz) Dallago.
Ronald was the Owner/Operator of Insulation Service Professionals (ISP) in Northampton, PA for over 30 years before retiring. He enjoyed skiing and was a member of the National Ski Patrol, serving at Blue Mountain Ski Resort, Palmerton, PA, and Spring Mountain Ski Resort, Schwenksville, PA. for years. Ron was also a member of the PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America).
He enjoyed the game of golf and was coordinator of two Senior Golf Leagues, Tuesdays and Thursdays at Twin Lakes Golf Club, Allentown, PA. for the past several years. He was a member of the Raccoon Club, in Northampton, PA. An avid sportsman, he participated in and coached wrestling at Parkland High School and was an East Penn Fast Pitch Softball league member for many years, most memorably on the Duke’s Pub team.
Ron is survived by his daughter, Dora M. Zion, wife of Richard Zion of Palm Coast, FL; sister, Michelle D. Mackowiak of Whitehall, PA; Niece, Nicole R. Gutierrez; and great-nephews, Donovan and Landon. He was predeceased by his sister, Barbara J. Dallago Vera in 2019.
The Eastern Division has so much to offer patrollers. Take advantage
of events that are currently listed on the Eastern Division Calendar.
For information, go to the calendar and click on the event, go to the Patroller School website, or contact the Program Advisor.
1/8 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
1/11-12 Nordic Fest, Highland Forest, Fabius, NY
1/17/25 Certified Pre-Test, Sugarloaf, ME
1/18-19 Sugarloaf Patroller School, ME
1/24-26 Level 1 Avalanche, Whiteface, NY
1/25-26 Elk Mountain Patroller School, PA
1/25-26 WISP Patroller School, MD
1/31 Certified Pre-Test, Killington, VT
2/1-2 Killington Patroller School, Killington, VT
2/3-5 Level 1 Avalanche, Smugglers’ Notch, VT
2/8-9 Waterville Valley Tele/Snowboard School, NH
2/8-9 Gore Mountain Patroller School, NY
2/8-9 Plattekill Patroller School, NY
2/12 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
3/7-9 Level 1 Avalanche, Mt. Washington, NH
3/7-9 Winter Division Officers’ Meeting
3/7-10 Young Adult Patroller Summit, Smugglers’ Notch, VT10
3/12 Patroller Stress Awareness Forum, ZOOM
3/13-16 Certified Annual Exam & Meeting, Jay Peak, VT (invitation only)
3/31 Memorial Fund Scholarship Applications Due
Killington Patrollers – Donny Mills in the handles and Karly Fischer on the tailrope
Headed for the safety netting.
On the way to reaching her 100th title at the Stifel Killington World Cup event, Mikaela Shiffrin crashed. The crash had her tumbling multiple times, bouncing off the netting fence before coming to a rest as competition paused and ski patrol came to her aid. After a somber waiting period following the GS competition, cheers erupted again when Shiffrin was brought down the mountain in a sled and appeared to be conscious.
Brant Maley and DiamondBack Covers Team Up to Honor First Responders
The team at DiamondBack Covers proudly expresses their deep gratitude to first responders. Their dedication and courage inspire us all, and we’re honored to recognize the heroes who keep our communities safe.
They produced a video featuring Certified Patroller Brant Maley from Roundtop Mountain Resort. He has worn many hats over the years and is currently a 24-year veteran serving as a police officer in Penbrook Borough, PA.
Brant joined NSP in 1989 and was awarded Certified #523 in 1998. He is an OEC, OET, Lift Evacuation, Low-angle Rescue, and Outdoor Risk Management instructor and is a Lifetime member of NSP. He was awarded National Appointment #10142 in 2005 and has a Meritorious Service Award and five Yellow Merit Stars.
Follow Brant through this journey. Check out this great video!
David Kaplan, 97, of Rhinebeck, died at home on November 8, 2024. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Arlene, after 61 years of marriage. He was attended by his daughter Suzanne and son-in-law Chuck as well as his caregiver David O. Dave leaves behind his daughters Suzanne and Debbie.
Dave was born in New York City. He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx and from NYU with a Bachelor of Science in business. Dave took over the ownership and operations of The Kaplan Press from his father and ran a successful printing business until his retirement. He and Arlene then moved full-time to the Hudson Valley.
The outdoors defined Dave and Arlene’s life together. They were active members of the National Ski Patrol, the Professional Ski Instructors of America, the AMC, and the ADK. Dave skied, paddled, and swam into his 90s.
The family thanks everyone who made it possible for Dave to remain at home, including his caregiver, David O., and many friends, neighbors, and ski buddies. They also thank the staff of Hudson Valley Hospice and the volunteers from Meals on Wheels.
There will be no service or visiting hours. Dave will join Arlene among the mountains and waters that sustained their lives. In their honor, take a hike, go for a paddle, or make some turns on your favorite trail.
“Go where you feel most alive.” – A.
Read about other patrollers who have completed their Final Sweep by clicking In Memoriam in the red bar at the top of the page.
James Richard Harrison, of Dalton, MA passed away on Sunday, September 15th, at age 81. Born on September 12, 1943 in Torrington, CT, he was the second eldest child of Donald and Jacqueline Harrison. He graduated from Dalton High School (MA) in 1961. Jim then enlisted in the Army where he served on a missile site in Wiesbaden Germany, near Frankfurt, as a Technical Sergeant.
After his time in the service, Jim returned to Dalton to work at E.D. Jones Beloit in the pulp & paper machinery industry. His 33+ year career included traveling the world, often spending extended time on jobs. Jim visited every continent and hundreds of countries and cities, with unimaginable airline mileage.
Jim was married for 47 years to Ann Louise Zaorski of Lanesborough, MA. She passed away on May 22, 2013 at the age of 70.
Jim is survived by sons James Stanley and wife Michelle of Phoenix, AZ, son Jeffery Donald and wife Wendy of Chandler, AZ and adopted son, Matt Snow and wife Tina of NC, and their children, Madeline, Emily and Zachary, and his Harrison siblings, Bruce, Duncan, Sandra, Heather, Keith, Kenneth, Timothy and their spouses and extended families. He was preceded in death by wife Ann, parents, Donald and Jaqueline, and oldest brother Malcom.
A 42-year member of the National Ski Patrol, Jim joined the Brodie Mountain patrol in 1979 and remained there until Brodie closed in 2002. He moved on to the Butternut Ski Patrol remaining there until 2022 when he retired because of health issues. Jim loved skiing and while he worked three days a week at Butternut, on his two days off he went skiing at Jiminy Peak.
Jim was very much an outdoors enthusiast, enjoying hiking, skiing, camping, and whitewater rafting. He was also a lover of classic cars, and hot rods. He loved to work with his hands, and restored, or built many antique/classic/muscle cars from the ground up. Jim was always up for a challenge and had the engineering mindset as a great problem solver.
He was a brother, father, friend & mentor to many, and his legacy will carry on through the lives of everyone that he has touched throughout the years.
In more recent years, Jim and his fiancé Kay LaViola of Savoy, have been spending time continuing his hobbies with his cars, traveling to Florida, and taking trips in a motorhome to Maine and other locations, as well as a recent trip to Arizona to go to the mountains with his boys.
James was cremated after death, according to his wishes. A memorial service will be planned and announced at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in his name to Brigham & Women’s Hospital (supportBWH.org) or the Berkshire Humane Society and mailed to Dery-Foley Funeral Home, 890 E. Main St., Dalton, MA 01226.
Lori Kennicutt joined Greek Peak Ski Patrol in Cortland, NY when she aged out the kids ski free benefit because her dad, Boyd Kennicutt, was on the Greek Peak Ski Patrol for many years. She then ran the ranks of junior patroller, patroller and finally a senior patroller spending 27 years in the system before retiring from Greek Peak. She took various leadership training courses during her tenure.
After Lori received a degree as a Veterinary Technician from SUNY Delhi, she was the Dog Control Officer for the Town of Union located in Broome County for 31 years. She was also a talented artist with a scathing wit.
Lori suddenly passed away in April 2024. She is sorely missed by her NSP patroller friends, those with whom she skied and befriended.
Joseph James Mosa, 96, of the Weatogue section of Simsbury, CT, beloved husband of Jean (Seymour) Mosa died Thursday, December 5, 2024, at his home. He was born March 5, 1928, in Somerville, MA, the son of the late Joseph Anthony Mosa and Frances Mosa, and had lived in Weatogue for over 60 years. Joe was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in the Korean War.
It’s with a heavy heart and great sadness that we announce the passing of one of our own. Ron “RD” Dallago conducted his final sweep on December 23, 2024. RD joined the Blue Mountain Ski Patrol in 1990 and over the years served in many roles. There are very few patrollers in the Eastern PA Region and Eastern Division of the National Ski Patrol system and even fewer at Blue Mountain Resort that he hasn’t helped in some way. He will be greatly missed by many!
The Eastern Division has so much to offer patrollers. Take advantage
Read about the patrollers who have completed their Final Sweep by clicking the 
The team at 
David Kaplan, 97, of Rhinebeck, died at home on November 8, 2024. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Arlene, after 61 years of marriage. He was attended by his daughter Suzanne and son-in-law Chuck as well as his caregiver David O. Dave leaves behind his daughters Suzanne and Debbie.
James Richard Harrison, of Dalton, MA passed away on Sunday, September 15th, at age 81. Born on September 12, 1943 in Torrington, CT, he was the second eldest child of Donald and Jacqueline Harrison. He graduated from Dalton High School (MA) in 1961. Jim then enlisted in the Army where he served on a missile site in Wiesbaden Germany, near Frankfurt, as a Technical Sergeant.
Lori Kennicutt joined Greek Peak Ski Patrol in Cortland, NY when she aged out the kids ski free benefit because her dad, Boyd Kennicutt, was on the Greek Peak Ski Patrol for many years. She then ran the ranks of junior patroller, patroller and finally a senior patroller spending 27 years in the system before retiring from Greek Peak. She took various leadership training courses during her tenure.
