Alfred Loomis Hobart, 85, died peacefully at home on April 19, 2023, after a long illness. He was born to Manette Seeldrayers and Garret Hobart in 1937 in New York City and was educated at Fay School and Deerfield Academy. He received a BA in government from Tufts University in 1961 and an MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth in 1963.
Al’s childhood was spent in New York City, Tuxedo Park, NY, and boarding school, with summers near the water where he developed a passion for sailboat racing. As a young person, Al found his identity as an athlete, playing soccer, baseball, lacrosse, and hockey in high school and college. While working at the High Altitude Observatory in Climax, Colorado, during a gap year in college, he taught himself to ski. This led him to join the Tufts alpine ski team which ultimately brought him to his life and career in Vermont.
Al’s first date with his future wife, Jane Tulipan, unfolded over a ski weekend at Mad River Glen in January 1961. He taught Jane to ski, and she soon shared his enthusiasm for the sport to the extent that they started their life together in The Valley in 1964, with a goal of living an outdoor lifestyle.
In the 1960s Al was involved with starting the Valley Junior Racing Club to train aspiring ski racers, and with Jane built and operated a rope tow on the Slalom Hill trail at Mad River Glen. Al was able to continue his own training for the Masters ski racing circuit and went on to compete successfully and happily at numerous national competitions over the years.
By 1973, Al and his fellow coaches Bill Moore and John Schultz realized that ski racers needed more than weekend training to succeed and enlisted educators Ashley Cadwell and Jane to join them in a new adventure. Together they founded Mad River Valley School in a nearby rented ski house. During Al’s tenure as headmaster, the school moved from a winter tutorial to a fully accredited year-round secondary school with a dedicated residential campus on Bragg Hill in Fayston, as well as a dedicated training facility on the Inverness trail at Mount Ellen. In 1977, the school changed its name to the familiar Green Mountain Valley School, and by 1979 Al was able to leave administration to others and focus on his passion for teaching the mechanics of a ski racing turn. He coached many very successful racers but was as excited about those at the beginning of their racing careers as those on the U.S. ski team.
Al continued coaching for GMVS through the late 1990s, and then as shaped skis came on the market his fascination with the physics of skiing led him to develop techniques for teaching skiers to make the most of the new technology. He was able to reach a broader audience by publishing books and videos in the Carving Turns Made Easy series. He remained committed to the mission of GMVS and served on the board of trustees until his health required him to step down in June of 2022.
Skiing not being year-round, in summers Al transferred his fierce competitiveness and strategic thinking about mechanics in sport to sailing, most recently on his J-24 at the Malletts Bay Boat Club. His sailing travels took him all over the U.S. and Canada. With loyal crew members and longtime fellow competitors he enjoyed all competition, from the local Thursday night race series through regional, national, and world championships. He continued racing his boat through 2021.
Al’s other passions were soccer, hockey, and music. He played men’s league soccer into his 40s and considered himself lucky to have played hockey well into his 70s. He enjoyed performing in musicals in high school and though not formally taught, played the saxophone and the guitar, and was a founding member of the bass section of the Mad River Chorale.
In contrast to his intensity about sports, Al was a quiet, thoughtful, and gentle person. Ethics and sportsmanship were of the highest importance to him and sharing his values in those areas was always a part of his interactions. He also had an irreverent sense of humor, enjoying sophomoric movies as well as endless Premier League soccer and World Cup ski broadcasts. He was happiest with close family and friends and avoided the spotlight in most situations. However, he was the proud recipient of the Sportsmanship Award at Malletts Bay Boat Club and was honored to be inducted into the VARA Hall of Fame in 1996, the Vermont Ski Hall of Fame in 2008, and the Sugarbush Wall of Fame in 2022.
Al is survived by his wife, Jane; two daughters, Alison (Mike Riddell) and Jessica (Alexander Pivovarsky); four grandchildren, Ethan and Lydia Riddell, and Luka and Nikolas Pivovarsky; and by his brother, Garret Hobart.
A memorial gathering will be held at Green Mountain Valley School Saturday afternoon, April 29, at 1 p.m. Please carpool.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Al’s memory may be made to the scholarship fund at Green Mountain Valley School.
