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Wintergreen Ski Patrol
May 29, 2013
David passed away on May 29, 2013, at his home in Troutville, VA. He is survived by his wife Susan and daughter Julia.
David was fighting a rare form of blood cancer (RARS-T, refractory anemia) since 2008. He received transfusions for over a year and finally received a bone marrow transplant in November of 2012. While he was cancer free since December 2012 (yes, he did crush it), complications from the transplant and graft versus host disease claimed his life. David always kept a positive attitude and zest for life, and I know that many patrollers were not even aware of his battle with cancer until our bone marrow donor drive in the fall of 2012.
David joined Wintergreen Ski Patrol in 2006. Not surprisingly, he received the Outstanding Candidate of the Year award. He achieved Senior status during the 08/09 season. David was Instructor of Record (Papa Bear) for the candidate OEC class for both the 10/11 and 11/12 seasons. He was awarded the Patroller of the Year in 2012. He was awarded Southern Division Outstanding OEC Instructor in 2012 and was runner-up for the National Outstanding OEC Instructor that same year.
David’s enthusiasm and energy were absolutely contagious. He undeniably left his mark on his patrol. His fellow patrollers have been sharing many stories over the last few months about David and will undoubtedly continue to do so in the future. It speaks volumes that his name was entered in the patrol lexicon, as in, “pulling a Kilmer” to refer to running up the slope to reach an accident.
He will be missed. He will not be forgotten.
A memorial Service will be held Saturday, June 8 at the Parkway Wesleyan Church (3645 Orange Ave. Roanoke, VA) at 2:00 pm.
JUSTUS NATHAN BAIRD, III
Sapphire Valley Ski Patrol
February 8, 1943-April 21, 2013
Justus Baird died April 21, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia, from prostate cancer. He was preceded in death by his sister, Deborah Tilson Baird. He is survived by his sister, Barbara Baird of Harriman, Tennessee. He was born on February 8, 1943, to Dr. "Betty" Mary Elizabeth Tilson Baird Brown and Justus Nathan Baird, Jr. in St. Louis, Missouri. After graduating from the Castle Heights Military Academy High School (Lebanon, TN) in 1960, he went on to earn four degrees: B.S. Forestry with a swimming scholarship (U. Georgia at Athens, 1964), M.A. in Entomology including extensive work in central America (U. Kansas, 1968), Masters in Public Health (U. Texas, 1973), and PhD in Environmental Health (U. Texas, 1989). From 1968 to 1971 he was a captain in the US Army, Medical Service Corps, and served in Vietnam, protecting troops from infectious diseases. In his first career, Justus directed public health departments in Houston, San Antonio, and Milwaukee. In his second career, he worked as a board certified financial planner and ski patrol director. Throughout his life he pursued a number of passions: tracing his Scottish ancestry, barbershop singing, investing, sailboat racing, competitive masters swimming, and messing around with computers. His community advocacy included fighting for visitation rights of divorced fathers and improving local environmental planning. A voracious reader, Justus was known for his breadth of knowledge in a wide variety of topics and would threaten anyone who tried to dispose of his copious amounts of reading material. He shared his love of nature through his bountiful gardening, family camping trips, and timeless photography. He is survived by two ex-wives, Linda Elaine Janson of Houston (maiden name Norling, married from 1970-1980), and Dr. Salpi Adrouny of Atlanta (married from 1991-2012). He is also survived by two children from his first marriage, son, Rabbi Justus N. Baird, IV of Princeton, NJ, and daughter Dr. Jennifer Baird Humberson of Richmond, VA. Justus cherished his five grandchildren and fostered in them a love for reading, sports, and the outdoors. Donations may be made to the Prostate Cancer Foundation.
Bryce Ski Patrol
Brigadier General United States Army, Retired
March 16, 1948-July 3, 2012
Brigadier General John Hunter Kern, United States Army, Retired, died unexpectedly, on Tuesday, July 3, 2012, at Inova Alexandria Hospital, Virginia, from complications following open heart surgery. The son of the late Colonel William Bentley Kern, USA, Retired, and the late Anne Nichol Kern, Jack was born in Kingston, Ontario, 16 March 1948, while his father was posted as an instructor to the Canadian Army Staff College. He traveled with his family throughout the world to Fort Monroe, Virginia, Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania, The Presidio of San Francisco, California, Fort Sheridan, Illinois, Paris, France, Fort Meade, Maryland, Hawaii, Algeria, Morocco, Israel, India, Egypt, Jordan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, and China. Jack was an ardent member of the Boy Scouts of America attaining Eagle Scout rank in 1964. He continued to serve the Scouts throughout his lifetime. Jack graduated from Groveton High School, Alexandria, Virginia in 1966, where he lettered in track and wrestling. He graduated from the Virginia Military Institute with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and was commissioned an Infantry officer through the Army ROTC program in 1970. He entered U.S. Army active service in 1971, attending the Infantry Officers Basic Course at Fort Benning, Georgia, where he was the honor graduate, followed by the Basic Airborne and the Mortar Platoon Leaders Courses. Thereafter, he was assigned as training officer of a basic training company at Fort Dix, New Jersey. Upon completion, he was assigned to the 172nd Infantry Brigade, Fort Richardson, Alaska where he served in the 60th Infantry Regiment as a rifle platoon leader leading sovereignty patrols north of the Brooks Range, and as an infantry company executive officer. BG Kern left the active military in 1975 and continued his military career in the U.S. Army Reserve, where he commanded Company C, 1st Battalion, 11th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He later served as the Battalion S-3 in Newburgh, N.Y. He was a CAS-3 instructor at the 2070th USAR Forces School at Fort Belvoir, VA and then commanded the 1st Battalion, 11th Special Forces (Airborne) in New Windsor, NY. BG Kern served 18 years with Special Forces. During his tenure, he greatly improved the professionalism, proficiency, and combat readiness of these units, and led his Soldiers in several winter warfare exercises in the Norwegian Arctic. He joined the 352nd Civil Affairs Command in 1994 as Assistant G-4. He deployed to Bosnia-Herzegovina with the 352nd in 1996, serving as the Chief of Staff, Office of the High Representative, of the NATO Implementation Force's Combined Joint Military Civil Task Force in Sarajevo. This office was part of the Force deployed to implement the Dayton Accords to end the Bosnian Civil War. In 1998, he commanded the 4th Brigade (Combat Service Support), 80th Division (Institutional Training), Charleston, West Virginia. BG Kern returned to Special Operations as Commanding General, 352nd Civil Affairs Command in 1999. He deployed to Kabul, Afghanistan in 2001, where he directed efforts to restore a civil society and met regularly with President Hamid Karzai. Upon return to the United States, BG Kern participated in the planning effort for the liberation of Iraq. In 2003, he led the 352nd Civil Affairs Command in the invasion and liberation of Iraq and provided civil-military support to the Coalition reconstruction effort and the restoration of civil society in Iraq. BG Kern loved being a Soldier. Having served tours in Alaska, Norway, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq, BG Kern had a profound respect for the professional accomplishments, personal sacrifices, and courage of the men and women of the United States Army, both military and civilian. BG Kern was a graduate of the Infantry Basic and Advanced Courses, Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course, Airborne, Jumpmaster, Special Forces, and Logistics Executive Development Courses, Command and General Staff College, and the Industrial College of the Armed Forces, Class of 1992. BG Kern's personal awards and decorations include the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal (4th Award), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Joint Meritorious Unit Award, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal (7th Award), National Defense Service Medal (3rd Award), Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (2nd Award), Armed Forces Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Ten Year Device-Gold (3rd Award), Armed Forces Reserve Medal and Mobilization (3rd Award), Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Components Overseas Training Ribbon (9thAward), North Atlantic Treaty Organization Medal, Expert Infantryman Badge, Master Parachutist Badge, Special Forces Tab, and Norwegian Armed Forces Parachutist Badge. He retired from the U.S. Army on November 11, 2003, having served his country for over 33 years. In addition his U.S. Army Reserve service, Jack worked for the Army in a civilian capacity beginning at Fort Dix, N.J. in 1975. He moved to the Washington, D.C. area in 1982 where he served as a senior member on the U.S. Army Staff at the Pentagon for 21 years. As the Chief of the Army's Equipping and Readiness Division, Office of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, he coordinated Army Equipment Readiness support efforts through major operations such as Panama, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, Haiti, Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. His civil service career culminated with the position of as the Chief of the U.S. Army's Prepositioning Stock Division, where he directed the Army's war reserve program that consisted of equipment and supplies stored around the world on land and afloat prepositioned in 14 countries and the United States of America and ships berthed in the Pacific and Indian Oceans. Upon retirement, Jack established Kern Consulting, LLC, a defense firm specializing in logistics management and post hostilities consulting. Jack loved life and lived it to the fullest. He was a consummate professional and took on any challenge that faced him. No matter what the difficulty, he never gave up. He always kept moving forward. He loved his family and friends, his country, and the United States Army. His passions were the Virginia Military Institute, the 11th Special Forces Group, U.S. Army Civil Affairs, and the Bryce Resort Ski Patrol. His hobbies included sailing his 43' ketch, "Civil Affair", patrolling with the Bryce Resort Ski Patrol, golfing for the ever elusive par, naval history, windsurfing and running marathons (completing 10 Marine Corps Marathons). He enjoyed a good steak, a great cigar, and Lagavulin single malt scotch. An outstanding leader, disciplined soldier, brilliant mentor, and a wonderful man of kindness, compassion, generosity, and fairness, Jack walked with faith and courage, a wake of goodwill behind him, always seeking and treading the right path. An extraordinary man...an extraordinary life... Jack Kern will be remembered. He is survived by his loving wife of 23 years, Melanie A. Hughes, his children, John H. Kern, Jr. and Bonnie S. Kern, four grandchildren, Hayden and Ty Miller, and Madeleine and Jack Kern, his sister Anne K. "Lawrie" Branson and her husband Dr. Ira D. Branson, his sister Katharine "Kathy" K. Candido and her husband Lieutenant Colonel (USA, Retired) Robert H. Candido, his brother Colonel (USA, Retired) William H. Kern and his wife, Lieutenant Colonel (USA, Retired) Elizabeth A. Hart, his aunts, Lorraine M. Nichol and Albina S. Kern, as well as many other beloved in-laws, out-laws, nieces and nephews, cousins, and many, many wonderful colleagues and friends. Visitation will take place at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA on October 17, 2012, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Funeral services and burial will take place at Arlington National Cemetery on October 18, 2012, beginning at 3 p.m. at Fort Myer Old Post Chapel. Reception will follow at the Fort Myer Officers Club, immediately after the burial The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.
Wintergreen Ski Patrol
May 18, 1950-June 8,2012
VIRGINIA – LTC (R) Lewis Eugene “Buck” Buchanan, the consummate warrior, was born on Johnson Air Force Base in Japan on May 18, 1950 and passed away on June 8, 2012. His parents, Lewis Earl Buchanan and Lilly Y. Buchanan, preceded him in death. Buck graduated from Itazuke High School in Japan in 1968, graduated summa cum laude from Chaminade College in Hawaii with a degree in business and earned his Master’s in Public Administrator from the University of Missouri in Kansas City. Buck was interested in everything and maintained a lifelong pursuit of learning. Buck joined the Army in 1969 at age 19. He did his Basic Training at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and his warrant officer flight training at Fort Wolters, Texas, Fort Rucker, Alabama, and Fort Stewart, Georgia. He served a year in Vietnam with D. Troop, 3/5 Cavalry in 1970-71. This began a career of cavalry assignments, spanning tours in Fort Hood, Schofield Barracks, fort Rucker, fort Knox and Fulda (Germany). He took a direct commission from Chief Warrant Officer 3 to Captain in 1981, and in his subsequent assignments served tours with Special Operations (Delta), the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth, Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Fort Monroe, ROTC at the University of South Carolina, and 24th Infantry Division at Fort Jackson. Buck retired from the Army in July 2006 after 37 years of active duty and began his service as a Department of the Army Civilian with First Army Division East at Fort Meade, Maryland, in December 2006. His awards and decorations include the Master Army Aviator Badge, the Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with V Device, Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service Ribbon, Vietnamese Cross of Galantry and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal. Buck enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, scuba diving, cooking and especially snow skiing, serving over 20 years with the National Ski Patrol. He had a fondness for both the ocean and the mountains and was at home anywhere in the world. He is survived by his wife, Joyce; his daughters, Kristelle and Danielle; his son-in-law, PFC Thomas Stanish; his grandson, Rowan Lewis; his sister, Janice; his battle buddy, BG Jan Haigler; his mother-in-law, Frances Godwin and sister-in-law, Marilyn Brookshear.
Wolf Ridge Ski Patrol
May 4, 2012
Bruce Estridge, 52, of Mars Hill, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, May 4, 2012, at his residence. Bruce became a patroller at Wolf Ridge in 2003. In 2004 he became an OEC instructor and had been instrumental in leading OEC courses and participating in refreshers ever since. His stations were never ordinary. He even built a lift tower out of a concrete form in order to make a scenario more realistic. It was not unusual for him to log well over 200 hours in a season, and Bruce won the first Lenoir Hartzler Most Valuable Patroller Memorial Award for top hours in the 2005/2006 season. He loved patrolling, and his ski patrol family. He was as honest as they come. He was always willing to lend a hand at anything; from putting up bamboo, to summer work days building a new warming hut, or doing building and equipment maintenance. He was a boy scout through and through, and was our own version of “McGyver”... if you needed it, he had it in his fanny pack, and if he couldn’t fix it, it was unlikely anyone could! His familiar call to “Let’s Spread The Red” was heard whenever there were too many gathering at the bottom of the hill, and he would be the first one back on the lift, no matter the weather or conditions. Bruce attended North Carolina State University and graduated from Western Carolina University with degrees in biology and environmental health. Bruce lived most of his life in Western North Carolina, the past twenty years in Mars Hill. He worked for the United States Post Office as a Rural Letter Carrier in Candler, NC. Bruce was a devoted husband and father; he adored his family and was so very proud of his children. Bruce was an avid outdoorsman, intrigued by God’s creation and wonderment, seizing each and every day to the fullest. As a youth, Bruce was a very active member of Boy Scout Troop #8 of Asheville. He was an active member of the Flittermouse Grotto of the National Speleological Society and enjoyed leading caving tours and attending educational caving events. He also loved hiking, backpacking, fishing and studying the bible. He was a member of Biltmore Church of Christ in Asheville, NC. Surviving are his wife of 26 years, Sue Scott Estridge, and children; Katie Elizabeth Estridge and son, Joseph “Joey” Denman Estridge. A celebration of life service was held on Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Mars Hill Baptist Church in Mars Hill. In lieu of flowers, an educational fund has been set up for Bruce’s children through the NC State Employees’ Credit Union. Please make checks out to Sue Estridge c/o NC-SECU, PO Box 920, Weaverville, NC 28787. Online condolences may be emailed to www.blueridgefuneralservice.org.
ARCHIVE
In Memoriam: Eric B. DeGroat from SC Volume VI No. 1 - Jan 1977
In Memoriam: Stephen Newall from SC Volume XIV No. 4 - Sep 1985
In Memoriam: Chuck Latkoff from SC Volume XV No. 2 - Feb 1986
In Memoriam: Mary K. Twomey from SC Volume XVI, No. 3 - Jun 1987
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