Dick Reuter — 1923-2011

The management, ownership, friends and family of Kirkwood Mountain Resort are deeply saddened by the passing of Dick Reuter, part of the original founding team of Kirkwood, World War II veteran and a true “mountain man’s mountain man”.

Dick passed away at Kirkwood on July 4, 2011. He was 88.

Dick’s mountain resort career began in the late 1950s in Squaw Valley after a long career as a trapper and logger in the Lassen Park area.

Dick initially helped fell trees to clear ski runs at Alpine Meadows and Squaw Valley, and then worked as a ski patrol leader at Squaw Valley during the 1960 Winter Olympics where he met and married his bride, Jeanne, and started a family.

After the Olympics, Dick went on to become mountain manager, cutting many legendary runs, running the avalanche control, and building and maintaining the ski lifts.

Enticed by the beautiful mountain at Kirkwood, Bud Klein’s compelling vision, and the significant challenges of starting a brand new resort, Dick moved his family to Kirkwood to start cutting runs and putting in lifts and implementing Kirkwood’s master plan in 1972.

“Dick Reuter was a ‘mountain man’s mountain man’,” says Dave Myers, vice president of operation for Kirkwood Mountain Resort. He worked with Dick for more than 30 years. “A real pioneer and tough as nails, Dick basically single-handedly installed chair No. 11, ‘The Reut’ of which the lift is named after him.”

The stories of Dick’s efforts and accomplishments have been chronicled in several books, including “Mountain Dreamers” and “Avalanche Hunters” as well as numerous trade journals and other articles.

Dick’s passion and drive played a significant role in making what Kirkwood is today.

His life will be celebrated at a memorial service with family, friends and admirers at Kirkwood on Aug. 6. Details are being finalized.