Hello,
It my sad duty to pass along the news that last Friday Jerry Fitts passed away suddenly from natural causes. Jerry was a valued member of the S’no Joke Ski Club and a good friend to many. Jerry served the club as President, Ski Committee member and leader of many ski trips to Europe. He will be missed greatly. One of his best friends, Tani Erickson put together a personal remembrance that I would like to share with the club.
“I met Jerry at my very first S’no Joke meeting - he was President - but I really got to know him when I was his girlfriend for 4 plus years.
What made him so fun to be around was his enthusiastic attitude. He was up for any adventure – a camping trip, a karaoke bar, a layover with me in New Orleans, a kayak launch, a week in the San Juans, a horseback ride, a Blues Festival, any ski trip and especially anything social. Everything was AWESOME, baby.
He was always interested in food, his favorite phrase was “what are we doing for dinner?” He was a great griller - we ate well. In our family, his deviled eggs were legendary… and years later I still texted him for the recipe.
Besides his positive energy, I appreciated his good heart. He never had a bad word to say about anyone (pretty remarkable, when you think about it). He was the first to offer to help…and the last one to leave a party!
He loved being a ski patroller, and spent many a weekend at Alpental (other S’no Jokers could comment better about this part of his life). I just know that Jerry was fearless on his snowboard. I could hear him shred down the hill past me while I was still linking my cautious turns. And of course, he spent a good part of his time organizing and leading ski trips to Europe. As soon as one trip was done, he was planning the next one. He was a great trip-leader; caring, involved, fun.
My family loved him. For my part, I grew very fond of his sisters and his sweet grandgirls.
He was kind, big-hearted and generous of spirit. I can’t believe he’s gone. I guess you could say that Jerry was, well, “AWESOME baby!”
Tani”
I would like everyone who has signed up for Jerry’s trip to Val D’Isere this coming February that the trip is still going to happen. There are several experienced trip leaders who have volunteered to step into Jerry’s shoes and lead the trip. I know it won’t be the same without him but I’m sure we will honor him in some way on the trip.