1922
Walter
2018
Walter Freidrich Stugger
January 27, 1922 — November 25, 2018
WALTER FRIEDRICH STUGGER
Walter Stugger 96 passed away Sunday November 25th. Walter was born January 27, 1922 in Villach, the Land of Carinthia, Austria. He began his ski career on a pair of wine-barrel staves when he was 6. Four years later his family moved to St. Gallen, Switzerland, where Walter was taught the long Telemark stem turns in deep snow before returning to Austria in 1938. Before and after World War II, in which he served 6 years, Stugger raced extensively in his homeland. Spent several winters at Lech where he skied with Austrian Olympic stars Othmar Schneider, Martin Strolz and Christian Pravda. In 1947 he became a certified ski instructor in the Austrian technique that featured parallel skiing. He taught at ST. Anton, the home of Hannes Schneider Ski School in 1949 and 1950 and at Igls near Innsbruck in 1951. At Obergurgl, Austria's highest ski village at the base of a glacier, Stugger was on the faculty at the Austrian Training camp where he taught instructors throughout Europe and coached the Austrian junior ski racers.
Walter was a natural athlete with remarkable endurance, persistence and charisma defined by ability to face challenges, consider all options, emerge with a positive attitude, and build a successful legacy. He often said "no matter how many times I am knocked down I will keep getting back on my feet ".
In 1949 he took up tennis, another lifelong passion, played competitively with a power game of strong serves and amazingly accurate backhand placement. While teaching tennis at Schloss Mittersill, he was persuaded by its owner Baron Hubert von Pantz to travel to the United States to build tennis courts at Mittersill Ski Area in Franconia, NH. He arrived in New York City in 1953 with the proverbial $5.00 in his pocket and a smattering of English. Although homesick for the mountains of Austria, Walter recognized that, in America, if you had a dream, worked hard and persisted, you could succeed. In 1958 he would become an American citizen.
He became certified in the Canadian technique and taught at Mount Snow for two years before being recruited by Don Soviero, owner of Bousquet's Ski Area in Pittsfield, Mass, to be its Ski School Director. Bousquet's had the distinction of being America's largest machine made snow area. Summers he was the Director of the YMCA Camp Merrill in Pittsfield, competed in tennis tournaments, and was a three time winner of the Western New England Championships.
As one position led to another Walter was defining his dream: he wanted to be his own boss and he wanted to build his own ski area. He also had a keen instinct for real estate. While he was at Mount Snow and, with a $500 loan from a fellow ski instructor, he bought the land next to Mount Snow that was to become Carinthia Ski Area. For three summers he timbered, bulldozed, graded, smoothed and mulched trails designed to be skied with 4" of snow. He opened in 1960. He also applied for a National Forest Permit to lease 147 acres directly above Carinthia, an expansion vision that Ski Magazine would define as an epic legal battle between a small ski area and its larger neighbor, Mount Snow. A series of appeals led to a 1969 decision handed down by Secretary of Agriculture, Orville Freeman, that Carinthia would be granted the permit.
It was also in 1969 that Walter married Diana Sprague. Though 22-year age separation and different backgrounds, personalities and talents, they were supportive, loyal and devoted to each other - Jigsaw puzzles pieces that fit together to complete a vision. Each assumed different responsibilities of ski area operation.
14 more years would pass before Carinthia completed its expansion of a mile long chairlift and additional slopes. Numerous Forest Service hearings, 1970's economic downturn, and early 1980's poor snow years had made the expansion costly and difficult. The ski industry demographics and dynamics were changing; the time of the small to medium sized ski area was coming to an end. In April 1986, to ensure the ski area's viability, Carinthia was sold to Mount Snow
Walter embraced retirement with his typical enthusiasm for new adventure. He and Diana moved to Stratton Mountain where he enjoyed skiing and tennis with friends, ski trips to Hintertux and Lech. He played competitive tennis until, in his 80's, he discovered golf and the challenge of learning a new sport. In his later years, he enjoyed being with family from California, Texas, Massachusetts and Maine. Holiday feasts with Diana's Mom and step family. Family tennis matches. Card games with friends, board games with his grandson Cyrus. Loved a chess challenge though admitted his son-in-law, Kamran, let him win. Visits from nieces and a favorite nephew. Catch up telephone calls to his cousin Hans in Vienna. A last trip to Austria showing his daughter Susan and grandson Kaveh all the places he had called home. He had a remarkable ability to listen and counsel, to encourage and support. His big bear hug offered heartwarming comfort and security. But woe betide the person who accepted his offer of a crushing handshake. His perspective on life was grounded in overcoming challenges, defending fairness. Behind his self-possession was a spirituality illuminated by the belief that humanity was evolving into a perfection of the soul. Seemingly gruff, he was never afraid to say "I love you." And, to his satisfaction, remained strikingly handsome into old age.
In 2017 Mount Snow invited Walter to revisit Carinthia which they had envisioned and recreated as Carinthia Parks, a snowboard mecca. A lasting legacy. A series of strokes led to gradual diminishment of his prowess and mobility but not the compelling gaze in his deep blue eyes, beguiling smile and will to survive. His last months were in Hospice care with close family friend Debbie Wright and loving wife Diana.
As a young man, Walter dreamed of sharing life with someone he loved in a chalet in the mountains. He passed quietly on a Sunday morning at his home on Stratton Mountain with his wife of 49 years by his side. He had lived a full life.
Walter is survived by his wife, Diana Sprague Stugger; predeceased by a twin sister, Gisela Stugger, of Kirchberg Austria; daughters Michelle (Steve) Schneider of Asburn, VA, and Susan (Kamran) Heravi of Laguna Hills, CA; mother-in-law Dorothy Reinke of Williamstown, MA; brother-in-law Robert C. (Ann) Sprague III of Frisco, TX, five grandchildren (Kaveh Heravi, Cyrus Heravi, Melissa North, twins Christopher and Elizabeth Schneider,) five great grandchildren, his loyal Irish Terrier, Maggie, as well as dear friends.
A private internment is planned. A memorial gathering of friends and family will be held June 28, 2019.
In lieu of flowers donations can be made to VNH, Visiting Nurse and Hospice for Vermont and New Hampshire, 88 Prospect Street, White River Junction, VT 05001; The Mountain Valley Medical Clinic, 38 Vermont Route 11, Londonderry, VT 05148, or the Southwestern Vermont Medical Center, 100 Hospital Drive in Bennington, VT 05201
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Walter Freidrich Stugger, please visit our flower store.
Service Schedule
Past Services
Interment Information
Saturday, June 29, 2019
Starts at 11:00 am (Eastern time)
East Lawn Cemetery
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