Rick Posekany | May 2, 1952 - June 2, 2015

Rick Posekany on Mt. Jefferson. Photo: Karin Mullendorf

Richard Leo Posekany, Jr. (Rick) was born to Richard and Patricia Whalen Posekany in Coos Bay, OR on May 2, 1953. He attended Elkton and Mill City Elementary Schools, graduating from Santiam High School as Valedictorian in 1971. While at the University of Oregon, he joined Sigma Chi Fraternity. He later studied forestry at the Chemeketa Community College.

Rick was a forester for Frank Lumber Company, Freres Lumber Company, and the US Forest Service. He lived and worked at the Detroit Ranger Station, was very active in the Santiam Canyon community, and served on the school board for over ten years.

A lifetime Hoodoo downhill skier, Rick has been a part of the Santiam Pass Ski Patrol since 1975. In 1983, he received his National Ski Patrol appointment. He was an instructor with the SPSP, earning the Oregon Outstanding Mountaineering Instructor Award and the Pacific NW Outstanding Mountaineering Instructor Award.

"Posey" fell in love with mountain climbing at the age of 13 and joined the Mazamas in 1973. During the years 1980-2011 as a Mazama leader, he lead 59 climbs and received the Guardian Peak and the Seven Oregon Summits Awards. The peaks of the Cascades were Rick's playgrounds. Always in search of greater challenges, Rick has summitted the peaks of Kilimanjaro, Denali, and Aconcagua. He returned several times as guide of his own enterprise, “Santiam Alpine Guides.”

Rick Posekany was preceded in death by his father, Richard Sr., earlier this year.

Rick is survived by his mother Patricia, step mother Phyllis, daughters Carri and Shauna, son Scott, grandchildren Ethan, Shaylee, Paige and Olivia, sisters Kim and Jean, brother Robert, step brothers Thom, Bob and Larry, nephews Graham, Daniel, Patrick and Joshua, nieces Amber and Cathryn, and his trusty dog, Sam.

Posey will be remembered for his integrity, his smile, his strength and energy, his enthusiasm, his great teaching and mentoring skills, his cheerful willingness to help others, his awesome beard, and his big loving heart.

In celebration of a life very well lived, a memorial service will be held June 19, at 2 p.m. at the Santiam High School in Mill City.