In Memoriam
In Memoriam – Steve Reisman
Steven Reisman, former Patrol Leader at Big Vanilla at Davos Ski Patrol in the Southern NY Region, passed away on August 9, 2025, at the age of 84.
Born on June 13, 1941, Steven attended Bayside High School, where he excelled at swimming. At just sixteen, he became a lifeguard at Rockaway Beach—a role that sparked a lifelong passion for the ocean. He later joined the Knickerbocker Yacht Club in Port Washington, NY, serving as secretary for more than sixteen years and participating in countless sailing events on the Long Island Sound.
Steven was also a proud member of the New York Athletic Club in New York City and enjoyed spending time at their summer facility on Travers Island in Westchester, NY. Deeply committed to community and history, Steven served as a trustee of the Cow Neck Historical Society in Port Washington, where he contributed his time, ideas, and expertise.
In Memoriam – John Cleary
John Cleary, a 30-year volunteer patroller at Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, passed away on October 25, 2025 at the age of 74.
“John was kind, soft-spoken, funny, genuine, warm, and so much more,” said Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Director, Lisa Buss. “John was one of the kindest people I have ever known. Not only was he an excellent ski patroller, but he also went out of his way to have a chat and ask fellow patrollers about their life outside of patrolling…how is the family, how is work, any trips coming up?
Following his retirement from Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, John and his wife, Kathy, continued to be homeowners at Hidden Valley, and were often seen in the chairlift lines or on the slopes, and made frequent visits to the patrol room to say hello.
John was a graduate of Kent State University in the field of architecture. He was a survivor of the Kent State Shootings on May 4, 1970…
In Memoriam – Gordon Leon Benoit
Gordon L. Benoit, a member of the Hunt Hollow Ski Patrol in Naples, NY, died on August 26, 2025 at Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada while on vacation.
Gordy joined the National Ski Patrol in 1979 at Ski Valley in South Bristol, NY and advanced to become a senior patroller in 1985. When Ski Valley closed in 2000, he transferred to Hunt Hollow to continue his volunteer patrolling career. He was a dedicated member of NSP for 46 years, serving Ski Valley, Hunt Hollow, the Genesee Valley Region, and the Eastern Division with distinction. His exemplary service to the skiing public and leadership as an Assistant Patrol Director, Ski & Toboggan Instructor, Region Senior Outdoor Emergency Transportation Program Administrator, and Division Instructor Trainer earned him National Appointment Number 8814 in 1998 and the Distinguished Service Award in 2016.
Gordy will always be remembered for using his expert skiing and teaching abilities…
In Memoriam – Danny Shipe
Beloved Pennsylvania Denton Hill Ski Patroller Daniel “Danny” Shipe died peacefully on August 22, 2025, at the Gatehouse Family Hospice in Williamsport, PA, surrounded by loving family and friends, following an 18-month courageous struggle with cancer.
Daniel Brosius Shipe was born in Philadelphia on October 13, 1955, the son of Robert Amos and Virginia (Burns) Shipe. His love of the great outdoors first developed during outings with his family in Central Pennsylvania, New England, and Canada.
Danny was a UPS career employee for thirty-five years. An added benefit was that all of the walking and steps in and out of the UPS truck kept his skiing quads in shape. In addition to skiing, Danny’s passions included gardening, music, and other outdoor sports including fishing, kayaking, mountain biking, and hiking.
Danny’s journey to becoming an avid cross-country and excellent downhill skier began during his college years…
In Memoriam – Sandy Macys
Sandy was born in Schweinfurt, Germany in 1947 of Lithuanian parents who were escaping the Russians. He moved to Vermont at the age of three and then to Connecticut when he was five.
He graduated from Paier School of Art with a professional degree in Interior Design.
In 1969, Sandy started patrolling at Mt. Southington, CT. Moving to Vermont, he became a professional patroller at Killington in 1970. In the two years he was there and in 1972 he passed the Certified test and was awarded #23. He was an active member of the program, examining in all the modules. In 2009 he was recognized by his peers in the program and was awarded Lifetime status. He joined the Sugarbush Resort Patrol in 1974.
In 1972 he discovered photography. For the next five years Sandy worked as a photographer with United Press International. In 1987 he became began a 15-year stint as a staff photographer at the Barre-Montpelier, Vermont Times Argus all the while continuing to be an active ski patroller.
In Memoriam – Chris Lindberg
Chris Lindberg, of the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol, Western Appalachian Region, passed away at the age of 74, on October 13, 2025. He joined the Ski Patrol in 1996. Chris was always smiling and willing to lend a hand with anything he could. He was a long-time OEC instructor and served as a member of the Hidden Valley Ski Patrol Board of Directors. Chris was a full-time homeowner at Hidden Valley and was active in both the HOA and the Jefferson Township community.
Chris was a Major in the United States Air Force, Retired. As Chris would put it, he served in the USAF for twenty-two years, three months, and eighteen days. His military career took him to many parts of the country and the world, including the University of Nebraska, where he graduated with his master’s in physician assistant studies and obtained his medical license. He specialized in Medical Oncology and Hematology but spent time practicing in related healthcare fields during his military
service.
In Memoriam – Walter “Buck” Berdan
Walter “Buck” G. Berdan passed away peacefully on August 27, 2025, surrounded by family after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. He was born on July 29, 1949, to Leonard and Margaret (Bliss) Berdan.
Buck grew up hiking, camping, swimming and caving all over New York with his brothers and his many cousins and friends. He was an Eagle Scout, a certified scuba diver, enjoyed sailing his numerous boats over the years, and he was an avid winter camper.
Buck graduated from Schoharie Central School in 1967 and enrolled in Union College, Schenectady, New York. His education was interrupted when he volunteered to serve two tours in the Vietnam War. From 1970 to 1972 Buck was a cryptographic Specialist 5 with an armored cavalry unit of the 23rd “Americal” infantry division.
In Memoriam – Lowell ‘Bud’ Brooks, Jr.
Lowell S. “Bud” Brooks, Jr., 90, of Allendale, NJ, passed away on August 13, 2025, in Allendale, NJ. He was born in Kingston, New York, in 1934, alongside his identical twin brother, Lynn, to his parents, the late Margaret and Lowell S. Brooks, Sr.
He attended Kingston High School, where he was on the ski team and began his lifelong service with the National Ski Patrol. A graduate of Norwich University (1957) and later Fairleigh Dickinson University (MBA, cum laude, 1968), Bud served as a Second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers before beginning a distinguished career in engineering, information systems, and business management, retiring from Cytec Industries in 1999.
In 1963, Bud married Ellen Schutz, and together they raised two children, Lowell “Scott” and Amy, in Allendale, where they lived for over 50 years. Bud was a devoted husband and lovingly cared for Ellen in her final years, as she battled Alzheimer’s, until her passing in 2018.
In Memoriam – David R. Hanning
David R. Hanning, an alumnus of the Swain Ski Patrol in Swain, New York, died July 13, 2025 at the Hildebrandt Hospice Care Center in Greece, NY at the age of 98.
David joined the National Ski Patrol in 1964 and patrolled for 40 years, serving with distinction as an Assistant Patrol Director, Membership Chairman, Outdoor Emergency Transportation and Mountain Travel and Rescue instructor, and Western New York Region Chairlift Evacuation Program Administrator.
He became a senior patroller in 1966 after passing the senior ski & toboggan test during the blizzard of 1966 that left all the senior candidates and examiners stranded in the storm and unable to travel home for two days.
For his ski patrol leadership and dedicated service to the skiing public he received National Appointment Number 7099 in 1989 and the National Ski Patrol Distinguished Service Award in 2004. Upon his ski patrol retirement, the David Hanning Commendation Award was established in his honor to be awarded for cumulative career contributions to the Swain Ski Patrol.
In Memoriam – John K. Jepson, Sr.
John K. Jepson, Sr. of Simsbury, CT, the former husband of Anne M. T. Jepson and Andi Thorne Jepson passed to be with his Lord on July 23, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents John Jepson and Clarice Kincaide Jepson and is survived by his brother, Henry Lincoln Kincaide Jepson (Vicki) and his two sisters, June C. Jepson and Esther G. Gomez (Richard).
He is also survived by his three children, John K. Jepson Jr. (Kara), Jeffrey F. Jepson (Donna), and Kristin J. DuBois (William), his three stepsons, Greg Thorne, Rick Thorne (Jennifer), and Dan Thorne ( Michelle), and his thirteen grandchildren, Nicole Wolter (Matt), Ashleigh Jepson, Laura Jepson, Grace Trainer (Bennett), Emma McMahon (Dylan), Lincoln Jepson, Austin DuBois, MacKenzie DuBois, Caroline DuBois, Grant DuBois and Keegan DuBois, Alexa Thorne and Zachary Thorne.
John was born in Hartford, CT, attended Kingswood High School in West Hartford, and graduated high school from Vermont Academy in Saxtons River, VT. He briefly attended Colorado College in Colorado Springs, CO before transferring and earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology from St. Lawrence University. He later attended the University of Connecticut (UCONN) Law School where he earned his law degree.
