Eastern Division NSP's News Magazine
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Riva Ridge 80th Anniversary Commemoration
At 0400 on February 18, 2025, soldiers from the 173rd Airborne Brigade will begin their ascent of Riva Ridge in Italy, retracing the exact footsteps of the 10th Mountain Division’s legendary 1945 assault—on the same date, at the same location, 80 years later. In the dead of night on February 18, 1945, five columns of highly trained mountain troops climbed what had been reported as the “unclimbable” face of Riva Ridge. Surprising the German troops that held the summit, the US mountain troops captured the summit…
2024 Awards
The Eastern Division has an incredibly talented group of patrollers. We are proud that so many were honored with awards this year. This is a list of the awards winners for 2024, including our Eastern Division patrollers who won National Outstanding Awards and the Eastern Division Outstanding Awards winners. The list also includes National and Leadership Commendation Appointments, Distinguished and Meritorious Service, Purple, Blue, Green, and Yellow Merit Stars, Patriot Star, Patroller Cross, and Patroller Achievement Award winners, plus 50-year Lifetime Service Awards. Click below to see all of the 2024 awards.
Alumni Events Galore!
2025 Annual Alumni & Patroller Celebration – March 16-20
• Celebrate, ski, and reconnect at the 2nd Annual Eastern Division NSP Alumni & Patroller Celebration!
• Join us at Stratton Mountain for an unforgettable gathering of NSP alumni and patrollers as we celebrate our shared passion for skiing and patrolling!
• Come for as long as you’d like—whether it’s a day or the whole event, the choice is yours!
• Click below to learn about events in other regions.
My Second Career as a Ski Patroller at 72
When I retired from full-time work at the end of 2017 after a rewarding 50-year career as a family therapist, I was looking for a new passion and challenge to invest my energy and continue helping people live to their full potential. I had always been adventurous and active, including skiing, golf, pickleball, weightlifting, long-distance cycling, hiking, kayaking, and T’ai Chi, so something physical appealed to me. As luck would have it, my wife and I met the assistant ski patrol director and his girlfriend at our local bar, near where we lived in Waterville Valley. As I expressed my interest, he said enthusiastically, “You should come out for the patrol and meet our director,” never once mentioning my age (72 at the time).
Memorial Fund Scholarships
It’s that time of year when students are anticipating acceptance letters, narrowing down college majors, and making their final decisions about where to commit to for next fall. Current students and adult learners may be exploring graduate programs, or further coursework to facilitate a career change. Any Eastern Division patroller who is seeking to pursue further education is eligible to apply for the 2025 David J. Nelson Sr. Memorial Scholarship. Now is the time of year to apply. Applications will be accepted through March 31. Click below for more information and a recap of our 2024 Memorial Scholarship recipients.
Women’s Program: A Successful Season So Far
The Eastern Division’s Women’s Program is off to a fantastic start for the 2024-2025 season, with a series of successful clinics that have drawn great enthusiasm and participation. The program continues to provide opportunities for women of all skill levels to improve their mountain sports abilities, try new activities, and connect with like-minded peers. This season, the program has hosted clinics at Elk, Killington, Smugglers’ Notch, Gore, Plattekill, Wisp, Labrador, and Burke Mountain. In addition to ski and toboggan enhancement, the program has offered guided uphill skiing, skiing/riding, GPS search and navigation, and Nordic.
Another Successful Nordic Fest
Nordic Fest was a blast! It started snowing on Friday night and we woke up to several inches of new snow blanketing the area. Highland Forest was our gracious host providing the Pines Cabins for the weekend. Saturday started with half the group taking skate ski lessons with PSIA L3 Instructor Candice Raines, who did a superb job teaching. Her husband, Thayer, worked with those who required more basic skate ski instruction. Highland Forest provided rental skis for those who needed them. The other half of the group took classic ski lessons with division staff members Phil Galka and Mike Lapierre. The highlight of the classic lessons was doing the ‘Dead Bug’ to get up after a fall.
In Memoriam – Charles Alfred Riley
Charles Alfred Riley, 74, of Windsor, MA died Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at his home after a brief battle with a very aggressive cancer. Born in Hartford, Connecticut on January 25, 1950, son of Charles H. and Merlyn Kelly Riley Charlie was also the grandson of his maternal grandparents Frank and Nel Kelly of Hartford CT.
In Memoriam – Joseph Racanelli
Joe Racanelli was a ski patroller at Stratton Mountain, Vermont from 1977-1981. He passed away at the age of 84 on July 25, 2024, on Long Island, New York. Joe considered himself a “full-time volunteer,” skiing as often as he could. Joe was born into a multi-generational family construction business on Long Island. He was one of six brothers. His son, Brian, reported that Joe loved to hike and ski. On a trip to Tuckerman Ravine, Joe fell and broke his leg. He had it set and cast in New Hampshire, then drove himself back to Long Island. ‘
In Memoriam – Nathaniel Florian
Nathaniel “Nat” Florian, 85, lifelong Southington resident, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 27, 2024. He is joyously reunited with his son Kristopher and all of those who have gone before him. Nat was born in Southington, CT, on October 6, 1938, to the late R. Steuart and Ethel (Tolles) Florian and was gifted with the nickname “Tweet.”
