The GLEBE continued
Meet the Members: John Saresky (continued)Do you ski or snow board?
I downhill and cross country ski. When did you start skiing? I was about eight years old. Where did you learn? I learned how to ski in my front yard. I did my first real skiing was at Mohawk. Since then, I have skied all over the Northeast, the West and Europe. What do you love most about skiing? Skiing a glade run first thing in the morning after a snowstorm. Where do you work? I do IT work for the Connecticut Air National Guard. Your favorite slope at Okemo? Black Hole on Jackson Gore Anything about your family life that you’d like to share with the members? I have two nephews and I taught them both how to ride a bicycle. Someday, I will teach them how to ski. What is something most people don’t know about you? I enjoy sea kayaking in the summer as much as I enjoy skiing in the winter. What do you love about being a member of the NSC? The party at the lodge after club races. And drinking Larry Ruddy’s homemade beer around a campfire in the driveway of the lodge. Meet the Members: Frank and Mary Petras (continued):Are you skiers or snowboarders?
We’re skiers. Where did you learn? We went on a ski trip with a NYC Bank where I was working. I think it was to Mt. Snow. We really enjoyed it, so we decided to take lessons, although I cried for at least an hour at the top of a beginner trail on the second day and Frank and our friends kept reminding me, “You did it yesterday”. Despite their encouragement, I was absolutely afraid to move that second day, but I eventually got over my fear. What do you love about skiing? We both like being outdoors and the winter is so cold, it really made us enjoy the scenery and the sport. Skiing is a really amazing sport, and we find it very exhilarating. It’s a sport one can enjoy with any number of other skiers - the more the merrier – or on one’s own, doing runs with the wind. Your favorite slope at Okemo? We really like Searles Way. It is closed a lot, but when it is open and groomed, it is such a pretty trail. Anything about your family life that you'd like to share with us? All of our kids are skiers and we have all enjoyed family ski trips. Greg and Sarah live in Portland, Oregon, and Aimee and her husband Youssef live in West Hartford. They have a baby, Tessa. I would love to get her out on skis when she is a toddler. She is a doll. What is something most people don't know about you? Mary was on the board as the treasurer when the club purchased the ski lodge in Ludlow. When she became Treasurer, all of the club’s funds were tied up in a savings account. With approvals from the board, the club was able to invest in CDs and other safe financial instruments which grew our savings account to a point where we were able to purchase the lodge. What do you enjoy about being a member of the NSC? We love meeting new people and the camaraderie at the ski house. It is like a home to us in the winter. We really love being there. The lodge is one of our favorite places. And because there are so many different members with different experiences, we enjoy interesting conversations and the chance to catch up with other people in the club in the evenings after a day on the slopes. Meet the Members: Larry Ruddy
October 2012 How long have you been a member of the NSC club? I think we joined the club in 1991. I used to work with Rolf Meyer in North Haven and he told me about the club and sponsored my family. Where are you from? My father was in the Air Force when I was growing up. I was born in Louisiana, lived in Japan for three years, and then in Massachusetts at the Westover AFB. My father retired in 1971 and my family moved to Cheshire, CT. I have lived in Cheshire ever since. Do you ski or snow board? I ski. I’ve never tried snowboarding. When did you start skiing? When I was in college, at CCSU, I took a five session Skiing PE course. We skied at Ski Sundown ski area in New Hartford. I really enjoyed the sport, but decided it was too expensive. I didn't start skiing again until my kids began to enjoy it. We had enrolled them in the Ski Wee program at Mt Southington when they were young. Where did you learn? After my initial PE course in college, I proceeded to learn all my bad ski habits on my own. What do you love most about skiing? I really enjoy being outdoors. Skiing and being a ski club member give me reasons to get outside more during the winter. Where do you work? Right now I'm self employed. I spent 35 years in the printing/prepress industry. but most of those jobs have gone away. I started a Handyman business this past April and I have recently been doing some freelance work for several Advertising/Design agencies. Your favorite slope at Okemo? I try to ski the whole mountain, but I seem to spend more time in the Southface area. Any thing about your family life that you’d like to share with the members? I'm very proud of my family. My kids had great experiences skiing and staying at the Norwalk Ski Club house in Weston when they were younger. By the time the club bought the house in Ludlow, my kids were away at college, and now they’re pursuing their own careers and families. My oldest son Daniel is a Chiropractor in Cheshire. He lives in Southington with his wife Tina, and my grandsons Derek and Boden. My daughter Sara lives in Philadelphia. She is a Physician’s Assistant at Albert Einstein Hospital. My younger son Paul just got married on 9/23/12, and lives in Gales Ferry, CT. with his wife Katie. He works as a detective in the City of Groton police department. What is something most people don’t know about you? I'm always trying to figure a way to improve things or do things better, inexpensively. I like to recycle or re-use rather than toss and buy new. What do you love about being a member of the NSC? Being part of the Norwalk Ski Club has been a great experience. Over the years we have met and become friends with many great people through the club. The club and the lodge gives us motivation to ski, hike, snowshoe, socialize, work and have a good time, and a place to stay while doing that all. We get to leave the stress and pressures of work and the everyday grind behind and escape to Vermont. We really enjoy seeing and talking to other club members and guests at the house. The community dinners (and wine tasting) after a day on the mountain are some of our favorite pastimes. Meet the Members: Rolf Meyer (continued):
April 2012
Rolf Meyer has been a member of the Norwalk Ski Club for over 40 years, first as a member with his family and then after turning 18, as an individual member. Where did you grow up? I was born and raised in Norwalk, Brien McMahon class of 1974. I lived in Norwalk, Brien McMahon class of 1974. I lived in Fairfield County until about 20 years ago when we moved to Madison, CT. When did you start skiing? My dad first took me skiing when I was about 11 or 12. He brought my first pair of skis at the old Korvette's department store in Trumbull. Where did you learn to ski? Powder Ridge in Middlefield, CT, except back then it was called Powder Hill. What do you love most about skiing? That's a tough one. The time spent outside in the winter, the exhilarating feeling of speed, the camaraderie of my hanging out with my ski buddies or the feel of gliding or floating with the mountain. Where do you work? I use to work in the printing industry, but the economy did that in. Currently I work part-time as an Instructor and Staff Trainer at Okemo. I also coach the Guilford CT High School Ski Team, work part-time at Suburban Sports Ski and Bike Shop in Berlin, CT and part-time as a personal Trainer at the Branford CT YMCA. When people ask me what I do, I tell them I am a ski bum. I love everything about skiing and truly enjoy coaching and teaching. Teaching and coaching has given me the opportunity to meet and ski with people from every walk of life including Olympians, middle age housewives, aspiring racers, ski movie stars, 9 year olds with runny noses. My only regret is that I didn't start teaching and coaching earlier in life. Your favorite slope at Okemo? Defiance to Ledges, but only if there are good bumps on L. Otherwise Quantum Leap in Jackson Gore Any information about your life/family that you’d like to share. Another tough one. I was recently divorced from my wife Dottie. Our son Rolf Jr. (26) who lives in Massachusetts and is also a club member. Our daughter Kirsten passed away in 2007. All three were, at one time or another, ski instructors at Powder Ridge or Okemo. What’s something most people may not know about you? When I started to ski I didn't really like it that much. I preferred ice hockey. But when I turned 18 one of my friends convinced me to give it another try. The equipment was better - no lace up boots, girls did it, there was a cold beer waiting at the bottom of the mountain (drinking age was 18 back then) and my skating skills really helped me as a skier. And in 38 years of skiing nobody has tried to hit me with a hockey stick. Also most people don’t know that I was born on February, 29th, leap year. |
‘Twas A Very Merry Holiday Party! continued...the festive atmosphere came alive with the decorating creativity of Barbara Macdonald and her capable helpers, Peter, Dominick, Mary, Frank, Bernadetta, Larry S., and Rocco who transformed the firehouse hall into the party place. Dominick and Peter also added music to keep the spirit going all evening.
The food table was overflowing with delicious holiday dishes, and numerous contributors filled the beverage bar. Rocco, kept the 50/50 raffle lively and, thanks to the generosity of Ron Arendt who held the winning ticket and donated his half to the club, NSC netted over $400. Not just a one-task guy, Rocco also created custom NSC T-shirts for us and was busy taking orders all night. By the way, if you haven’t ordered yours yet, check out the options on our NSC website and contact Rocco for T-Shirts ASAP. The order deadline is next week. They look really awesome! In addition to the many door prizes given out, Angela Annino and Trish Skidmore created a dazzling display of over 25 auction items contributed by ski areas and businesses as well as generous members who donated products and services to the offerings. Fifteen members walked away smiling with their winnings and the club raised over $1000. Individuals who made donations are: Barbara Macdonald, Tom Kretsch, Lauren& Howard Stephens, Janet Scabrini, Ester Vitiello, Joyce Cacchione, Chris Sullivan, and Matt Offredi. A full list of business donors is listed on our website along with more party pictures. Check them out. Thanks to all who helped to put it together and for all who attended! Happy Holidays! |
