Waterville Valley fixture Ruth Antonides dies at 71

By Published On: May 6th, 2005Comments Off on Waterville Valley fixture Ruth Antonides dies at 71

Waterville Valley fixture Ruth Antonides dies at 71{mosimage}Ruth Caldwell Antonides passed away peacefully on April 26, 2005 after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Warsaw, New York, Ruth spent her early years in Putney, Vermont, where she graduated from Putney School. After attended Simmons College and the University of Vermont, she was teaching riding at Colorado Mountain College when she met and married William Oakes Antonides in 1955.

In the fall of 1996, Ruthie joined the team that opened the Waterville Valley Ski Area and continued to work there in many capacities over the years, most recently as human resources manager/mountain operations administrator. She had just completed her 39th year of service in April 2005. During her tenure at the ski area, Ruthie organized and oversaw 21 Wednesday’s Child Race events, seven Christa McAuliffe ski events and eleven World Cup ski races, including the Finals in 1992. The United States Ski Association awarded Ruthie the Burkett Dodge Award in 1992 for excellence in race organization.

In March of 2005, Jack Williams announced the creation of the Ruthie Antonides Annual Service Award as part of the Jack William’s Foundation for Wednesday’s Child. The annual award will be given to the individual or company that exemplifies dedication to helping find homes for special needs children who are without families.

Ruthie was very active in the community and served as selectman for the town of Waterville Valley since the fall of 2002. Additionally, she served on many boards and was president of the Waterville Valley School Board, Village Condominium Association and Waterville Valley Athletic and Improvement Association. She was an avid golfer, hiker, and an accomplished skier.

Family members include son Craig Caldwell Antonides of Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, and daughter and son-in-law Kris and Bruce McKinnon of Glenwood Springs, Colorado. Other surviving family members include mother, Dorothy Briggs Emmons of Brattleboro, Vermont, brothers John Caldwell, William Samuel Caldwell of Putney, Vermont, Peter Caldwell of Pine Plains, New York, and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at the Waterville Valley Ski Area on April 30, 2005. Private internment will take place at the Waterville Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Ruthie’s name may be sent to Pemi Baker Hospice, 258 Highland Street, Plymouth NH 03264.

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About the Author: Pete Rugh