Remembering Mountaineer Patti Polinsky

Updated 7/16/21 to add information about the planned memorial date for Patti.

With great sadness we share the news of the passing of Patti Polinsky, a 56-year member of The Mountaineers, long-time volunteer with Meany Lodge and the Foothills Branch, ski instructor, and Global Adventures Leader. Patti passed away after a long battle with cancer on June 15, 2021. She was comfortable and surrounded by loved ones, including her husband of 45 years, Dave Claar.

Patti's contributions to The Mountaineers community are immense, spanning more than five decades across many continents, as well as close to home. Over the years, Patti was recognized with our Mountaineers Leader of the Year award in 2020, our Outdoor Centers Service Award in 2019, and our Mountaineers Service Award in 2016. She leaves behind her husband Dave and sister-in-law Charlene Peck. 

Patti joined The Mountaineers right after college, wanting to learn how to "sleep outside safely." She recently joked that she was keen to quit right after gaining those skills, but life had other plans, and Patti quickly became very involved.

Patti epitomized what it means to be a Mountaineer. She joined in 1965, enrolling in our Basic Climbing Course. When she graduated, instead of quitting as she planned, Patti enrolled in Intermediate Climbing. She was hooked, and in 1970 earned her Six Majors peak pin, among other notable climbing achievements. 

Patti's membership predates many of the records we have on hand, but we do know that she served on our Board of Directors for a number of years beginning in 1991 (including as its Secretary), and that she started volunteering at our Meany Lodge in the 1960s. Patti formalized a ski school at Meany Lodge in 1970 and has been credited with keeping it going ever since, including training dozens of new volunteer instructors over the years. She's taught over 1,000 Mountaineers and Meany Lodge visitors how to backcountry ski, downhill ski, and cross country ski. Plus, she's helped them master the ropes - literally - of the Meany Rope Tow, which tops out at 15 miles per hour. Patti was also synonymous with Meany Lodge's fall event - the Mushroom Weekend, an activity she led since its inception. 

"Working with Patti was always a master class in Servant Leadership," said Chuck Welter, the long-running Chair of Meany Lodge. "Patti was always focused on the needs of the people she was working with and leading. I learned a lot from the 20+ years that I was privileged to know her and work with her."

In 1985, Patti attended a trip to Austria with our Global Adventures program. The following year she went back to Austria and took a second trip to ski in Italy and France, all with Global Adventures. Thus began her love for international travel with The Mountaineers. Over nearly three decades Patti led more than three dozen international trips to destinations in Europe and Japan. Patti's taken hikers to the coast of England and New England to see the fall colors. She's led ski trips that included lots of eating in France and Switzerland. And she's shown intrepid powder hounds the world-famous powder in Japan.

We interviewed Patti recently for her Leader of the Year Award, and she had this to say about her time in The Mountaineers: "I had years of fun and great memories. And wonderful people I've met through the club, including my husband." 

Patti was well-loved by The Mountaineers community, in particular at Meany Lodge. She's been recognized for her flexibility, adaptability, leadership (both in cultivating new leaders and in supporting existing ones), and in her overall organization. That's to say nothing for her huge zest for life. Here are a few things Patti's participants had to say about her, including participants on her most recent Global Adventure who had to be whisked home early due to COVID-19:

• Patti did a GREAT job dealing with changing circumstances on this trip. When Tyrol closed all the hotels in the area she got us to our departure city of Munich and booked into our pre-departure hotel so we knew we had some place to stay. Excellent foresight and planning!!
• Patti went above and beyond safety and security measures. Our group mainly consisted of two levels of skiers. Excellent and intermediate. Most were in the excellent category and skied with the leader. HOWEVER, the leader always made sure intermediate skier(s) had an advanced skier with them and one who knew the mountain runs. I also was grateful and impressed with the leader's calls regarding exiting the country in a timely, orderly, and efficient manner. Not only were safety needs met but she handled the tension and all the changing of hotels, transportation, and airlines with grace, warmth, and calmness.
• Patti not only planned the often-changing weekend's activities well, she took on any additional instruction responsibilities necessitated by last minute roster changes. Patti touched base with instructors on a daily basis to ensure that we had a good understanding of expectations for the day.
• I picked a ski lesson from Patti because of a very positive experience 30 years ago. She did not disappoint. I (re)learned enough to get me skiing again after a very long respite. 
• Patti is a wonderful ski instructor. She is dedicated to ensuring a positive experience. She is prepared with the lesson plan (and treats!), yet flexible to suit the conditions or students specifically. I learned a lot, I had fun, and the class built my confidence. I would recommend a ski lesson to anyone. I feel anyone could learn something from Patti's expertise!

In addition to her influential role as a volunteer, Patti was also a steadfast charitable donor to The Mountaineers. Inspired by our collective efforts to introduce people to the outdoors, as well as our conservation and advocacy outcomes, Patti joined our leadership giving circle in 2014, the Peak Society, and has renewed her support every year since. 

Our deepest sympathies go out to Patti's husband Dave, her friends and family, the Meany Lodge community, and all of her many course and activity participants. Patti was a true gem, and her smile and intrepid spirit are missed already. Her passing will be felt in our community for years to come.

Public Memorial

Please join us on October 24 from 12-2pm for a community celebration in Patti's memory. More details will be shared soon on the event listing. Please RSVP.

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