MASTERS
Skiers assemble at the top of Rosi’s Run in honor of Wescott.
Collegiate jumping form.
Wescott races slalom in the early 1970s.
Rocky Mountain masters pals offer
Wescott congratulations.
After thawing out, the group gathered at the
Black Diamond Restaurant for a memorial ser-
vice and wake of sorts. Photographs of Wescott
lined the room, and a slideshow inspired tales
of past adventures. “It was great for me and
my family to meet all of Dad’s Rocky Mountain
friends,” said Will. “It was a wonderful sendoff.”
There was one more adventure in store for
Will and his wife, Kate. After the services and
an emotional series of thanks and goodbyes,
they packed up as many 12 pairs of Harold’s
skis into his Ford Explorer and then turned east.
Also stuffed into the car was an urn containing
Harold’s ashes. The three-day trip back to New
Hampshire offered plenty of time for reflection
and, with it, the satisfaction that comes with
knowing that your father made such a positive
impact on so many people.
Will and the family left one-third of Harold’s
ashes on the top of Copper Mountain; one-third
would be be scattered at the summit of Mount
Washington, and the remainder was set aside to
be buried in the family plot in Laconia, where a
final memorial service was held March 1 2.
With his penchant for ski racing, biking, and
hiking, Wescott certainly was dynamic and ad-
venturesome. But he will be most remembered
for being a good friend. “He was always so sup-
portive, always so willing to help,” said Eastern
masters racer Patti Lane. “We had so much fun
waiting at the start of our races. I guess he was
so important to me was because he always took
the time to care.”
Jen Kaufman, Rocky Mountain friend and fel-
low racer, added: “It was his Harold-ness; his
hugging all the girls at the awards; his energy
and enthusiasm; his dedication to the sport; his
house always being packed with racers and
friends. He was always there having fun. I flew
to Andorra for the Internationals two years ago,
and there’s Harold in line to get his bib. You real-
ize that anyone 81 years old is not going to be
with us forever, but this came so suddenly. We
weren’t ready to lose him.”
SCHNEEHEXEPHOTOGRAPHY; DEBI DAVIS
