Comments for Billy Poole Memorial Fund http://billypooleskifoundation.org Memorializing Big Mountain skier Billy Poole R.I.P. 1979-2008 Sun, 18 May 2008 17:27:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Remember Billy by Nikki http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-61 Nikki Sat, 10 May 2008 20:54:56 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-61 The last time I spoke with Billy was the day of our graduation. I never even knew he was a skier until our reunion this past Nov. when one of our fellow class mates was like "hey billy is an extreme skier in Utah- and he's doing really well". I thought wow- that is really cool- not really understanding what that meant. Until later I googled him and watched his videos- and couldn't believe what I was watching- he was truly amazing. My brother called me at 5 am to tell me the sad news of his passing- and even though i had not talked to him in so long- it hit me like a ton of bricks- i have so many amazing memories of Billy- we went out for a while in highschool- he was at first one of my good friends- we used to goof off in history and get yelled at constantly- we started "going out" soon after- he was the first person I said " I love you" too, the first and only person I snuck into my house at 3 in the morning (oh ya that was after he stole his step bros pick up truck- without a liscence I might add)( oh ya and the other nights he road his BIKE from Barre to my house in Hubbardston!!!) I still have notes from him- I still have that picture of him and Seth posing near the pond down the road from his house- from when Jesslyn, Seth and Bill and I would go on walks- I still have the backstage pass from when we went to see Dave Mathews band- so many awsome memories. I wanted to send my condolances to his family and friends and hope you are all doing well. I also want to say I am so Jealous of Billy- he got to live his dream and that is something many of us will never get to say. I will always have a special place in my heart for the young man I once knew. The last time I spoke with Billy was the day of our graduation. I never even knew he was a skier until our reunion this past Nov. when one of our fellow class mates was like “hey billy is an extreme skier in Utah- and he’s doing really well”. I thought wow- that is really cool- not really understanding what that meant. Until later I googled him and watched his videos- and couldn’t believe what I was watching- he was truly amazing.
My brother called me at 5 am to tell me the sad news of his passing- and even though i had not talked to him in so long- it hit me like a ton of bricks- i have so many amazing memories of Billy- we went out for a while in highschool- he was at first one of my good friends- we used to goof off in history and get yelled at constantly- we started “going out” soon after- he was the first person I said ” I love you” too, the first and only person I snuck into my house at 3 in the morning (oh ya that was after he stole his step bros pick up truck- without a liscence I might add)( oh ya and the other nights he road his BIKE from Barre to my house in Hubbardston!!!) I still have notes from him- I still have that picture of him and Seth posing near the pond down the road from his house- from when Jesslyn, Seth and Bill and I would go on walks- I still have the backstage pass from when we went to see Dave Mathews band- so many awsome memories.
I wanted to send my condolances to his family and friends and hope you are all doing well. I also want to say I am so Jealous of Billy- he got to live his dream and that is something many of us will never get to say. I will always have a special place in my heart for the young man I once knew.

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Meg Rutherford http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-57 Meg Rutherford Thu, 24 Apr 2008 00:57:52 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-57 I knew Bill in high school and had stayed in touch sporadically since than. When we ran into each other a couple of years ago, I told him about my boring job and he told me about how he was living his dream. He was always a person that knew how to both live and appreciate life. Even as a 16 year old cocky wrestler with a big smile, he knew more about living than most people. He always just drew people to him and connected with them. I find myself checking out this page every couple of weeks just because I'd love to catch up with him. Miss you Bill. I knew Bill in high school and had stayed in touch sporadically since than. When we ran into each other a couple of years ago, I told him about my boring job and he told me about how he was living his dream.

He was always a person that knew how to both live and appreciate life. Even as a 16 year old cocky wrestler with a big smile, he knew more about living than most people. He always just drew people to him and connected with them.

I find myself checking out this page every couple of weeks just because I’d love to catch up with him. Miss you Bill.

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by nile steigerwald http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-54 nile steigerwald Tue, 15 Apr 2008 16:56:09 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-54 U RIP !!!! WOW WHAT A GREAT SKIER , U RIP !!!! WOW WHAT A GREAT SKIER ,

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Vinnie Urgo http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-25 Vinnie Urgo Fri, 04 Apr 2008 00:20:21 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-25 I Get the opportunity to ski/work with the best of them. And Billy was one of the best. Watching him grease cliffs rarely hit in JH and Slay lines in Argentina. Ski deep pow in Alta and party like it's 1999 are my memories of Billy. Rarely do I meet a skier with the confidence he had and the ability to follow through on his vision. 1 line at a time. Vinnie I Get the opportunity to ski/work with the best of them. And Billy was one of the best. Watching him grease cliffs rarely hit in JH and Slay lines in Argentina. Ski deep pow in Alta and party like it’s 1999 are my memories of Billy. Rarely do I meet a skier with the confidence he had and the ability to follow through on his vision. 1 line at a time.

Vinnie

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Jason http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-22 Jason Thu, 03 Apr 2008 16:04:56 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-22 Hey BP - had a lot of fun celebrating your birthday last weekend with some of our friends! There have been a lot of funny stories shared that I had forgotten about....we had some good times!! Thought I would share the one that makes me laugh the most! It was the beginning of my sophomore year in college, and I absolutely hated being there! I lived in the apartment below Billy and for about a month didn’t say a word to him as I passed him 4 or 5 times a day coming in and out of our apartments. I am pretty sure he knew I was miserable and he hating seeing anyone like that! Then it just so happened that I practically ran into him as he was leaving a party and I was coming in….He stops me and says, “Hey, why don’t you ever say hello? Next time I see you I want you to say what’s up Billy?” Then he just kinda stumbled away…. I very next day I passed him as he was going into his apartment so I said it “Hey what’s up Billy?” He looks at me funny and says: “Who are you?” There was a pause and then came the laugh I will never forget and he said….”I’m just fuckin’ with you dude! Come on in!” 4 years later I was one of those kids sitting on the couch with him when he told us he was moving out west to be a professional skier. Well, you accomplished that dream and it's that ambition and drive of yours that I try to carry on! Miss you and love you bro! Jason McLean Stowe, VT Hey BP - had a lot of fun celebrating your birthday last weekend with some of our friends! There have been a lot of funny stories shared that I had forgotten about….we had some good times!! Thought I would share the one that makes me laugh the most!

It was the beginning of my sophomore year in college, and I absolutely hated being there! I lived in the apartment below Billy and for about a month didn’t say a word to him as I passed him 4 or 5 times a day coming in and out of our apartments. I am pretty sure he knew I was miserable and he hating seeing anyone like that! Then it just so happened that I practically ran into him as he was leaving a party and I was coming in….He stops me and says, “Hey, why don’t you ever say hello? Next time I see you I want you to say what’s up Billy?” Then he just kinda stumbled away….

I very next day I passed him as he was going into his apartment so I said it

“Hey what’s up Billy?”

He looks at me funny and says:

“Who are you?” There was a pause and then came the laugh I will never forget and he said….”I’m just fuckin’ with you dude! Come on in!”

4 years later I was one of those kids sitting on the couch with him when he told us he was moving out west to be a professional skier. Well, you accomplished that dream and it’s that ambition and drive of yours that I try to carry on!

Miss you and love you bro!

Jason McLean
Stowe, VT

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Tracy (Kerr) Goodfield http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-19 Tracy (Kerr) Goodfield Thu, 20 Mar 2008 18:06:05 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-19 Billy, better late than never. Obviously still think of you now and again, even though I haven't seen you in years. Still think of you and Pennie and the good times at your house watching the horses in the sun from your window. I will always remember sneaking around the trails of Camp Putnam at night to visit our friends, and finding you doing the same. I will miss your kind spirit, your laugh and your natural ability to leave a positive impact on everyone you meet. When I think of you, I think of freedom. Miss you, Billy, along with everyone else. Billy, better late than never. Obviously still think of you now and again, even though I haven’t seen you in years. Still think of you and Pennie and the good times at your house watching the horses in the sun from your window. I will always remember sneaking around the trails of Camp Putnam at night to visit our friends, and finding you doing the same. I will miss your kind spirit, your laugh and your natural ability to leave a positive impact on everyone you meet. When I think of you, I think of freedom. Miss you, Billy, along with everyone else.

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by michael nugent http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-18 michael nugent Wed, 19 Mar 2008 23:16:27 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-18 love eternal R.I.P. Billy Poole -Nuge love eternal R.I.P. Billy Poole -Nuge

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by J.Fox http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-16 J.Fox Sun, 02 Mar 2008 16:20:08 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-16 I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with Billy during his Aspen/Snowmass tenure. During this time I was able to witness his aspiration towards sking as a career. A non-reality and only a dream for many of us, Billy never took his eye off the prize. He met the right people, made the right impressions, and never stopped pushing the limits of his sking, even if the odds were against him. Our lives took different paths but i've never forgotten about him and the relationship we developed. Again, an ode to lasting impressions. Blessings to this opportunity to experience the life of this human and to all the lives he touched and will continue to touch through the foundation. Thank you to you all who have posted your thoughts. Had To Cry Today-Blind Faith I was blessed with the opportunity to spend time with Billy during his Aspen/Snowmass tenure. During this time I was able to witness his aspiration towards sking as a career. A non-reality and only a dream for many of us, Billy never took his eye off the prize. He met the right people, made the right impressions, and never stopped pushing the limits of his sking, even if the odds were against him. Our lives took different paths but i’ve never forgotten about him and the relationship we developed. Again, an ode to lasting impressions. Blessings to this opportunity to experience the life of this human and to all the lives he touched and will continue to touch through the foundation. Thank you to you all who have posted your thoughts. Had To Cry Today-Blind Faith

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Dave Gibson http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-15 Dave Gibson Fri, 29 Feb 2008 06:13:40 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-15 Billy was such an awesome person! I had the pleasure of working with him on numerous designs for Discrete. He always had the most positive vibes going on and his energy just made a person feel good. He told me the new Discrete catalog design gave him goose bumps, which to a designer, is the most emotional and respectable compliment one could give. I knew he was really in tuned in. The day of his death was actually my first day out this season, sitting out for 5 months from a nasty bike injury. As I skinned up in the cold darkness with another buddy, the sun slowly came out, and was the first sunny day in 3 over weeks, it was something very special. I had such an amazing day, one of those days you just keep saying, "It feels good to be alive." It felt like being 6 years old on Christmas morning. A few hours later in the AM someone ran over and said, "Hey Dave, Billy just got in an accident." I thought, Billy is so fucking tough it must be something minor...but a short time later I got the sad news of his loss. I honestly could not even fathom it. I thought of his friends and family and what they must be going through. But, in the midst of sadness, I saw friends coming together in remembrance. So please just simply remember! Remember what an amazing person Billy was and he'll always be a part of every person who knew him, and even those who never got the chance to. I think about him often. Rock on Billy, you really left a positive mark in this world. —Dave. Billy was such an awesome person! I had the pleasure of working with him on numerous designs for Discrete. He always had the most positive vibes going on and his energy just made a person feel good. He told me the new Discrete catalog design gave him goose bumps, which to a designer, is the most emotional and respectable compliment one could give. I knew he was really in tuned in.

The day of his death was actually my first day out this season, sitting out for 5 months from a nasty bike injury. As I skinned up in the cold darkness with another buddy, the sun slowly came out, and was the first sunny day in 3 over weeks, it was something very special. I had such an amazing day, one of those days you just keep saying, “It feels good to be alive.” It felt like being 6 years old on Christmas morning.

A few hours later in the AM someone ran over and said, “Hey Dave, Billy just got in an accident.” I thought, Billy is so fucking tough it must be something minor…but a short time later I got the sad news of his loss. I honestly could not even fathom it. I thought of his friends and family and what they must be going through.

But, in the midst of sadness, I saw friends coming together in remembrance. So please just simply remember! Remember what an amazing person Billy was and he’ll always be a part of every person who knew him, and even those who never got the chance to. I think about him often. Rock on Billy, you really left a positive mark in this world. —Dave.

]]> Comment on Remember Billy by Kyle Westervelt http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-14 Kyle Westervelt Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:47:55 +0000 http://billypooleskifoundation.org/share-your-memories-of-billy-poole/#comment-14 Most of the people who view this sight most likely are riding in the captain’s chair of the same preverbal boat that I am. We find ourselves thinking about him at strange times during the day and then need to follow up on that thought by looking at this video. Thank the lord (there are so many of them nowadays I can’t keep up) that Camcorders were invented, because with this footage seen here of BP coupled with a video we have of ourselves white water rafting a few years back in Maine, and one extremely disturbing video that was shot during a night of debauchery at out apartment my senior year…this is what I have to remember BP. Now don’t get me wrong, memories are here to haunt us and comfort us at the same time, however anyone who was close with Billy in his college days most likely remembers only 60% of what really happened, and 20% of it is most likely exaggerated/hallucinated stories, and the remaining 20% is completely gone. Where have these memories gone? Who knows, but maybe the state of learning theory will bring them back when I visit Jamaica on my honey moon. But my main point of writing this is to shine some light on the Billy Poole AWAY from the ski mountain. Because there was such a person, and he is the person who made me cry like I just lost 6th grade basketball game at the buzzer, or after you punch yourself in the face attempting to assemble a TV stand that no mortal human could ever construct…you catch my drift. I’ve been trying to take more pictures in general now, just because I am a man and the last 28 years have cared not to document my adventures, and now I realize that I forget everything instantly after it happens. However, I cannot forget Billy. What I can do is write down some of these memories here, almost as an insurance policy that I will not disgrace BP by forgetting about his impact on my life and his close friend at UNH. Here we go…these might not make sense to you but this is my therapy so relax a lil bit… 1. The night @ the YMCA in Portsmouth when we were supposed to be guarding the paintings in the tent outside, but instead about 10 of us spent the night in the pool getting smushed. Melissa had on a bathing suite that was too small (thank you for that by the way) and I hooked up with Colleen after she asked me 250 intimate questions about my life and my dreams. Great night, Grade: A+ 2. The night that we all went out in town during the summer when you and Melissa took over my room and slept under my bunk bed. I always appreciated that, as anyone who knows you… are well aware that your feet smell like week old cheetos. But that night after countless brewz, you decided you would run home without stepping on concrete. Instead you ran from car top to car top, denting every hood along the way because your tree trunks that you called legs were telling you where to go…classic. Grade: B+ 3. Rafting…you are the only one who didn’t wear a helmet. You quoted the phrase “stupid sexy Miller” because he looked soooo good in that wetsuit. That hick from NH came over to our fire and asked us if “ Ya’ll themuns shootin of them shotguns? - Where you replied….”What duuuude??? And then cracked in his face with your ridiculous laugh. Grade B+ 4. Street fight in Portsmouth when Mike Band said he was that kids father, and after the fight dispersed you looked at me and said “I think that kid kicked me in my face, who kicks in street fight? Grade A 5. The day I went golfing with Molleo and came back and hung out with you and Melissa and Timmy, when I found grain alcohol and ended up vomiting all over myself and was out of commission for two straight days. That was cool. Grade: F 6. Strafford apartments – A5 and A6, Foosball – Billy on the five man 7. The jump you made in your back yard your senior year when you were doing back flips and landed on your face. 8. Coming to Medford to hang out for a couple weeks with Dylan, feeling bad because you didn’t have a real job when we all actually despised what we were doing each day. 9. Driving the ice cream truck in Hampton beach. I realize this list is longer than I thought. Maybe I have given myself less credit that I deserve (trust me that has never occurred before). Bottom line is BP is not someone you get close to with having a major impact on you. Some people come and they go and they don’t leave a lasting impact on you, as most of you know that is just not the case with Billy. Even though I hadn’t directly spoken to BP in over a year, Jason always called and let us know how he was doing and vice versa. Tim, Saunders, Jason, Big Steve, Mike Band and even JJ you little river rat, we all never knew we had limited time with Billy, should we have done anything different?.......... Not a chance BP we love you Kyle (AKA smiles) Westervelt Boston MA Most of the people who view this sight most likely are riding in the captain’s chair of the same preverbal boat that I am. We find ourselves thinking about him at strange times during the day and then need to follow up on that thought by looking at this video. Thank the lord (there are so many of them nowadays I can’t keep up) that Camcorders were invented, because with this footage seen here of BP coupled with a video we have of ourselves white water rafting a few years back in Maine, and one extremely disturbing video that was shot during a night of debauchery at out apartment my senior year…this is what I have to remember BP. Now don’t get me wrong, memories are here to haunt us and comfort us at the same time, however anyone who was close with Billy in his college days most likely remembers only 60% of what really happened, and 20% of it is most likely exaggerated/hallucinated stories, and the remaining 20% is completely gone. Where have these memories gone? Who knows, but maybe the state of learning theory will bring them back when I visit Jamaica on my honey moon. But my main point of writing this is to shine some light on the Billy Poole AWAY from the ski mountain.

Because there was such a person, and he is the person who made me cry like I just lost 6th grade basketball game at the buzzer, or after you punch yourself in the face attempting to assemble a TV stand that no mortal human could ever construct…you catch my drift. I’ve been trying to take more pictures in general now, just because I am a man and the last 28 years have cared not to document my adventures, and now I realize that I forget everything instantly after it happens. However, I cannot forget Billy. What I can do is write down some of these memories here, almost as an insurance policy that I will not disgrace BP by forgetting about his impact on my life and his close friend at UNH. Here we go…these might not make sense to you but this is my therapy so relax a lil bit…

1. The night @ the YMCA in Portsmouth when we were supposed to be guarding the paintings in the tent outside, but instead about 10 of us spent the night in the pool getting smushed. Melissa had on a bathing suite that was too small (thank you for that by the way) and I hooked up with Colleen after she asked me 250 intimate questions about my life and my dreams. Great night, Grade: A+

2. The night that we all went out in town during the summer when you and Melissa took over my room and slept under my bunk bed. I always appreciated that, as anyone who knows you… are well aware that your feet smell like week old cheetos. But that night after countless brewz, you decided you would run home without stepping on concrete. Instead you ran from car top to car top, denting every hood along the way because your tree trunks that you called legs were telling you where to go…classic. Grade: B+

3. Rafting…you are the only one who didn’t wear a helmet. You quoted the phrase “stupid sexy Miller” because he looked soooo good in that wetsuit. That hick from NH came over to our fire and asked us if “ Ya’ll themuns shootin of them shotguns? - Where you replied….”What duuuude??? And then cracked in his face with your ridiculous laugh. Grade B+

4. Street fight in Portsmouth when Mike Band said he was that kids father, and after the fight dispersed you looked at me and said “I think that kid kicked me in my face, who kicks in street fight? Grade A

5. The day I went golfing with Molleo and came back and hung out with you and Melissa and Timmy, when I found grain alcohol and ended up vomiting all over myself and was out of commission for two straight days. That was cool. Grade: F

6. Strafford apartments – A5 and A6, Foosball – Billy on the five man

7. The jump you made in your back yard your senior year when you were doing back flips and landed on your face.

8. Coming to Medford to hang out for a couple weeks with Dylan, feeling bad because you didn’t have a real job when we all actually despised what we were doing each day.
9. Driving the ice cream truck in Hampton beach.

I realize this list is longer than I thought. Maybe I have given myself less credit that I deserve (trust me that has never occurred before). Bottom line is BP is not someone you get close to with having a major impact on you. Some people come and they go and they don’t leave a lasting impact on you, as most of you know that is just not the case with Billy. Even though I hadn’t directly spoken to BP in over a year, Jason always called and let us know how he was doing and vice versa. Tim, Saunders, Jason, Big Steve, Mike Band and even JJ you little river rat, we all never knew we had limited time with Billy, should we have done anything different?………. Not a chance

BP we love you

Kyle (AKA smiles) Westervelt
Boston MA

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