The end of an era for Taos Ski Valley Ski School, Jean Mayer died Oct. 10, 2020

[marzNC]

For anyone who has ever taken a Taos Ski Week in the last 50 years will be sad to learn that Jean Mayer passed away last night. He made the Taos Ski School unique in N. America. I'm glad to have had a glimpse of him in recent years. His smile was infectious when he served dinner to guests at the St. Bernard.

October 11, Taos News
Longtime director of Taos Ski Valley snow sports school dies
https://www.taosnews.com/news/busin...cle_02f83916-0bcc-11eb-9d22-67359bb2c7a4.html

For those who are unfamiliar with Jean Mayer and how he ended up working the Ernie Blake to turn Taos Ski Valley into a destination resort, here is an article from a few years ago when he was 81.

As TSV undergoes a monumental makeover, Jean Mayer and the St. Bernard are keeping it real
https://discovertaos.com/utterly-unpretentious/

"Don’t ask Jean Mayer how old he is. American’s have a funny stigma about age, he says. Over here, age puts you in a box. He’s not fond of boxes.​

​

And don’t tell Mayer he’s a legend. Sure, he was arguably a war hero. And sure, he helped create an iconic hotel and one of the greatest ski resorts in North America. But legends are past their prime. Legends are doomed to relieve their glory days until they die.​

​

Mayer is not. “I don’t really like to go very much over the past. I want to do more and better.”​

​

Mayer — who’s 81 by the way — is short and stocky. He’s built strong like a French bulldog, and with the same amiable temperament. His eyes squeeze into a squint when wearing an almost constant smile, showing off the pronounced gap between his front teeth. His quintessential French accent warms the soul like a glass of good Bordeaux. He is the epitome of charm. Utterly unpretentious and perhaps generous to a fault.​

​

Next ski season will mark 60 years since Jean Mayer stepped off a bus at Taos Plaza, skis slung over his shoulder. Mayer had been personally recruited by Ski Valley founder Ernie Blake, who hired Mayer to get the resort’s fledgling ski school off the ground.​

. . ."​

 

[Olesya Chornoguz]

What a loss to Taos ski community. He sure was a ski legend with a vibrant personality. I feel fortunate we got to meet him at our dinner at St. Bernard's.

 

[alison wong]

His passing is the end of an era.

Stuart, my last Taos instructor said, he felt privileged to be part of Jean's era.

Per Stuart, Jean never recovered from his hip surgery, continued to experience pain, found out later that pain was from cancer and had chemo. Learned he was not doing well this March when I was in Taos.

 

[nopoleskier]

He was one of a kind. He directed me to go to a higher group and I had no clue who he was and I talked back! He was a beautiful skier and fun outgoing man full of life and great stories. I'm glad we had dinner at St Bernard's and he was our server!!! Gone way too soon!

 

[marzNC]

Here is the blog post on the TSV website about Jean Mayer's passing:

 

[marzNC]

A few more articles about Jean Mayer. In addition to creating the Taos Ski School, he built the Hotel St. Bernard right next to Lift 1. The St. B. is a slice of France set in New Mexican mountains. The first article is about Jean and his brother, Dadou. Dadou is still at TSV. He and his wife built and still run the Edelweiss Lodge. I saw him teaching the most advanced group last season.

Nov 1984, D Magazine
Two for the Slopes
https://www.dmagazine.com/publications/d-magazine/1984/november/two-for-the-slopes/

Jan 2020, Santa Fe New Mexican
Heart of Taos Ski Valley: Hotel St. Bernard
https://www.santafenewmexican.com/n...cle_bbd468ad-9e7b-5406-81cc-43b376e7a83b.html

 

[marzNC]

The article linked in Post #1 was updated recently with more information about the life of Jean Mayer. A virtual memorial service was held on Oct. 18.

Updated Oct. 20, Taos News
Longtime director of Taos Ski Valley snow sports school dies
https://www.taosnews.com/news/busin...cle_02f83916-0bcc-11eb-9d22-67359bb2c7a4.html
" . . .
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the “Ski New Mexico Jean Mayer Fund” which has been set up to ensure New Mexico’s children have access to the beautiful slopes of the Southern Rockies. Checks can be mailed to: Ski New Mexico, PO Box 90037 Albuquerque, NM 87199.
. . ."