Henry (Hank) Arthur McKee passed away at his home in Duxbury, Vermont, suddenly but peacefully on Saturday, November 5, 2016. He was born in Dunkirk, New York, on November 26, 1949. He was predeceased by his father, Frederick, longtime editor of the Dunkirk Evening Observer, and mother, Helen (Clees), career-long teacher at The Campus School of Fredonia State College.
Hank attended The Campus School and Fredonia High School from which he graduated in 1968. In high school he and several close friends founded the garage band, The Wretched Group, which covered all the popular songs of the day. Hank was the lead singer. They often played small venues to the delight of area teenagers of their generation. On a whim in 1999, the band reunited for a Fredonia High School reunion. The ensuing concert was such a success that The Wretched Group evolved and continued to play several gigs each summer to the delight of their community for 15 years.
Hank was always pleased to say he closed down both of the colleges he attended: Colorado Alpine College in Steamboat Springs and then Milton College in Wisconsin from which he graduated with a BA in literature. Between semesters, Hank returned to his hometown and worked for the Dunkirk Evening Observer as a county and sports reporter.
In 1978, he married Anna (Penny) Spahr of Minnesota and moved to Vermont to pursue a ski-writing career and begin a family. The couple had two daughters, Mina Marie (McKee) LaFarge and Cassey Ann McKee. Mina was born while they lived in Brattleboro where Hank pieced together work for Haystack Mountain and the United States Ski Association. The little family became known in the area for bicycling the mountains surrounding Brattleboro with baby/groceries in backpacks and as avid softball players in a dynamic co-ed league, creating lifelong friendships.
In 1980, Hank was hired by Ski Racing International and the couple moved to Poultney, Vermont, where their second child, Cassey, was born in 1982. While working for magazine owner Ed Pickett, it was publisher Don Metivier of Glens Falls, New York, that took the young writer under his mentorship. Combined with Hank’s own newspaper background and love of storytelling, Metivier encouraged a clean and lean style of writing that well complimented his abilities, and, to the great benefit of the international world of ski racing, a wonderful writer evolved.
In 1983, Hank joined his life and family with Mary (Mame) (Merriman) Ramey and her two children, Ronnie Brian Juckett and Jessica Mame Ramey of Poultney. In 1985, the magazine was moved to Warren, Vermont, by the new owner, Gary Black of Baltimore, and the newspaper men became fast friends. The new family moved to Moretown and then settled in Duxbury in 1986.
As a senior editor for Ski Racing, Hank covered both the men’s and women’s World Cup skiers for most of his 36 years with the magazine. He very much enjoyed finding up-and-coming young skiers as well and highlighting them in the magazine. Hank was world renowned for both the statistical data he kept on thousands of skiers and the genuine relationships he developed with skiers, coaches, tech reps and fellow journalists.
Among the many professional honors over the years, Hank was named FIS Journalist of the Year in 2010 and won the Paul Robbins Journalism Award from the Vermont Ski and Snowboard Museum the same year. Hank and Paul have been the delight of dozens of pressrooms for 25 years. A more complete review of Hank’s professional accolades and a wonderful tribute by former co-worker Tim Etchels of Middlebury, Vermont, can be found at SkiRacing.com. One of the most passionate and knowledgeable people in the sport, only his love of family and friends was greater.
An artist on the grill, he was the inspiration for and an original member of the award-winning Howling Hog [Competition] Barbecue Team manned by nephew and niece Chris Sargent and Jenn Colby of Randolph, Vermont. He was very proud when son-in-law Curran LaFarge of Rutland became the Vermont State Rib Champion in 2016.
Hank, Mame and brother-in-law Peter Merriman of Duxbury founded the St. Divots Golf and Sledding Club at their home in 1989. The nine-hole, par-36 course evolved to be a joyous focal point for hundreds of forest golfers as well as the bane of commercial-course golfers. Each August for 26 years the Festival of the Seven Fires Invitational Golf Tournament has proudly been held on the lovely Duxbury property. He will be greatly missed by the Friends of St. Divots.
His proudest accomplishment, however, is his family. His boisterous laughter and joyful spirit will long be remembered by his sweetheart of 33 years, Mame (Merriman) McKee of Duxbury, his son Ron and daughter-in-law Sarah Juckett of Burlington, daughter Mina and son-in-law Curran LaFarge and grandchildren Emma and Sawyer of Rutland, daughter Jessica (Ramey) Noaro and grandchild Seraphina of Sutton, PQ, CA, and daughter Cassey McKee with her partner Timothy Wertzler and grandchildren McKenna and Dylan Henry of Rutland.
He is also survived by his older brother, Fred McKee, and sister-in-law, Dona (Alpert) McKee, of Langford, New Hampshire, along with nephews Adam McKee of Colorado and Brendan McKee of California. And by his best friends, Peter Merriman of Duxbury, Don Schneider of Waterbury Center, Ken Colby of Hartland, VT, and Jim Modisher of Colorado. He was recently predeceased by his good friend, Bob Grab of Chester, PA.
There will be a community memorial for Hank on December 10 at 11 a.m. at Crossett Brook Middle School in his hometown of Duxbury. Immediately following the service there will be a community luncheon. The celebration of Hank’s life will continue at the Best Western Plus in Waterbury from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Mame and the children want to give a heartfelt thank you to the Waterbury Rescue Squad and the Vermont State Police for their gentle assistance and to the community for their loving support.
Online condolences can be offered at gregorycremation.com.
The family held a private memorial in Burlington. Per his wishes, he will be cremated and spend eternity on his beloved St. Divots.
