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.
John D. Hebert Sr., age 76, of Pittsfield passed away at home on May 30, 2024, following a long illness. John will be remembered as a man of many names, The Pencil Man, The Godfather, Nature Boy, Papa J, and The King.
Born in Pittsfield, MA on October 26, 1947, John was a son of the late Leon and Margaret (Stack) Hebert. He was a graduate of Pittsfield High School and earned his associate degree in business from a junior college in Albany, NY.
He spent most of life running his own business, The Pencil Man, where he sold office supplies and furniture. He also was a member of Berkshire Mental Health, now the Brien Center, where he worked as a residential staff member for many years.
He was a member of the National Ski Patrol at Brodie Mountain for over 25 years. He was a great skier and was taught by his father at a young age. He also coached women’s softball and enjoyed sponsoring many teams. John loved golfing and was a longtime member of the GEAA. He even shot a hole-in-one while golfing with his dear friends John and David.
John had a great sense of humor and loved to talk. He had many friends, and he left a lasting impact on all who loved him.
John was the beloved husband of Noreen McNally Hebert, whom he married on October 24, 1996. He was also the brother of Pamela Hebert Sullivan (Timothy) of Pittsfield and Margaret Ann Benson of Chapel Hill, NC; father of John “JD” Hebert, Jr. (Melissa Morin and family) of Lanesboro; grandfather of Taylor Hebert LaRochelle of Dalton; gift-father of Tracey Schaeffer (Chuck) and Quentin Brown (Fahmi Rahmani); and gift-grandfather of Bailey Schaeffer, George, Isabella, and Clyde Brown. John was predeceased by his brother Lee Arthur Hebert.
The Hebert family wishes to send a special thank you to John’s CNA Rosa Ramirez who has taken excellent care of him and his wife Noreen.
Friends were invited to join the family for visitation at the Devanny-Condron Funeral Home on June 6, 2024 from 10-11:30am. A Liturgy of Christian Burial followed at St. Charles Church. Burial will be at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in John’s memory may be made payable to “Hospice Care of the Berkshires” and mailed to the funeral home at 40 Maplewood Ave. Pittsfield, MA 01201
Leland “Lee” Palmer began his skiing career as an outdoor family activity at Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland, NY. His National Ski Patrol volunteer career included being a patroller, a senior patroller, an assistant patrol leader, and assisting with the candidates and their training.
Being incredibly resourceful, a salt of the earth person who built his own house, he contributed heavily of his own time and from his business in support of the Greek Peak Ski Patrol. Lee was on the swim team and graduated from Vestal High School, Vestal, NY and Alfred State University. He served in the Coast Guard until his father fell ill and he was discharged to home. At that time he took over the family business of McCormick’s Paint and Wallpaper in Binghamton, NY where he worked until his retirement.
Additionally, Lee worked as a chauffeur for a few years after he retired transporting people from the Binghamton area to New York City, and locally for the BC Open Golf Tournament. He enjoyed boating, camping, golfing, and NASCAR.
Lee passed away in 2020 at 69 years old. He is heartily missed by his NSP patroller friends, those with whom he skied and befriended.
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.
John D. Hebert Sr., age 76, of Pittsfield passed away at home on May 30, 2024, following a long illness. John will be remembered as a man of many names, The Pencil Man, The Godfather, Nature Boy, Papa J, and The King.
Leland “Lee” Palmer began his skiing career as an outdoor family activity at Greek Peak Ski Resort in Cortland, NY. His National Ski Patrol volunteer career included being a patroller, a senior patroller, an assistant patrol leader, and assisting with the candidates and their training.
