John Suzawith

Retired Snowmass, Colo., ski patroller and noted local musician John Suzawith, 61, died of natural causes Nov. 30, 2007, in Clifton, Colo.

John grew up on the family farm in Yelm, Wash., and graduated from Yelm High School in 1964, where he was the football team captain and student body president.

The winter of 1967-68, he arrived in Aspen during a blizzard. He started on the Snowmass packing crew in 1969 and later moved to the ski patrol. He ultimately became a patrol supervisor.

John spent many winters living in a primitive cabin at the bottom of the Campground lift. He called it "Peaceful Valley," and smiled when he talked about it.

He left the patrol in 1995 and spent the next decade working as a painter in Whitefish, where he enjoyed camping, fishing, canoeing, skiing and playing music with friends. The spring of 2005, he moved to Clifton. He worked for the city of Grand Junction and continued to be part-time owner of Johnny's Bar and Grill.

John's lifelong passion was music. He was a talented jazz and rhythm-and-blues guitarist who played in bands beginning in high school. As a true musician, John loved hearing, composing, teaching and playing with friends whenever the occasion arose, giving anyone listening great enjoyment. He played with groups in California, Washington, Colorado, Oregon and Montana.

John loved and enjoyed people, sports and family. Friends and family will remember his easy smile and dry wit. He will be missed.

He leaves behind a grown daughter, Aria, of Newport Beach Calif.; his longtime companion Beverly Smalley, of Clifton, Colo.; brothers Thom, of Basalt, Colo., Gerald, of Rainier, Wash., Bill, of Yelm; sisters Theresa, of Yelm, and Suzann, of Fairbanks, Alaska; and niece Mantia Maria, of Olympia, Wash.

Memorial services are pending.