Bill Tanler
Bill Tanler’s was not a household name on the area side of the ski industry except for those who might remember when he was the editor of this magazine from June 1965 to July 1966. He was one of the best at his craft then and he only got better in the ensuing years.
When he came to SAM he was already a veteran of two ski industry publication start-ups, Western Ski Dealer and Northwest Skier. After he left, he managed a bunch more: Ski Racing, The Ski Industry Letter, Warren Miller’s Ski World, Ski Tech and Ski Travel. He also founded Bicycle Retailer & Industry News.
This past year year he became editor and publisher of Wintersport Business, a start-up for Miller Freeman, Inc., a huge trade publishing company which had earlier bought his bicycle publication. The second issue was barely off press when Bill was felled by a heart attack.
I pay Bill the highest compliment one editor/publisher can pay another: he had integrity. He truly believed that strong, truthful editorial material produced by him as editor was what made him succeed as publisher. A rare understanding.
Jack Rudd
by David B. Roberts, Sno-Star Pipelines, Inc.
The ski industry lost one of its pioneers on Christmas day when Jack Rudd succumbed to a long bout with cancer. Jack was one of the first ski industry suppliers I met as I began my business 20 years ago and he possessed the qualities of fairness and integrity that I wanted to emulate in my new business. When Jack and I would compete it was always with respect, and we were happy for each other’s accomplishments.
To Jack, the world revolved around his wife, Susan, their five children and their families. He loved his work, but always maintained his perspective on what mattered most. I try to follow his example.
René Borner
by David Rowan
It is not given to many people to be instantly claimed as friend by all who meet them. René Borner was one of these. We in the ski area industry met him because he came from Switzerland to so many of our meetings and trade shows over the years, representing CWA cabins. But it was his warmth, humor and magnetism as a human being that counted about him, more than his commercial affiliation.
René was a true internationalist, totally at home in many languages. What endeared him to his friends this side of the Atlantic was that he unabashedly loved things American. Put a guitar in his hands and he would entertain with a bottomless supply of Americana. He also had an utterly hopeless addiction to golf and his business trips were lovingly tailored to give full effect to this addiction.
Parkinson’s is a sad affliction for anyone to bear, but it seemed especially cruel that someone like René should become its victim. His North American friends will not soon forget him.
Ralph D. Crowley, Sr.
by David Crowley
Ralph D. Crowley Sr. built Wachusett Mountain Ski Area from a local ski hill in central Massachusetts into one of the most successful ski areas in the Northeast. He passed away on December 14, 1996, at the age of 71.
In addition to being the primary force behind Wachusett Mountain, he also built Polar Beverages into one of the largest independent soft drink bottling companies in the country.
Today, Wachusett is run by three of Ralph’s children: Carolyn, David and Jeff. His two other children, Ralph Jr. and Chris, operate Polar Beverages.
We have all been touched by the outpouring of letters and flowers from so many of our friends in this unique business that he loved so much.
