Club Awards
Aorangi Award
In early 1963, Ramapo explored the possibilities of an international trophy exchange. Two years later an international trophy exchange was devised by member J. Carruthers, with the help of then United States Ambassador to New Zealand, Anthony Akers. Mr. Akers is most noted for being a Patrol Torpedo boat commander in the squadron which evacuated General Douglas MacArthur from the Philippines in early 1942.
Through the good graces of the New Zealand Consul General, H.A. Gaites, contact was made with the Aorangi Ski Club of Wellington, New Zealand. Named after New Zealand’s highest mountain, Mt. Cook (12,349 feet), which the Maoris call Aorangi – “The Cloud Piercer”. After considerable correspondence, a trophy was shipped to the Aorangi Club to be presented to the winner of a club race. Our Kiwi friends selected a beautiful “Merei”; an ancient battle axe of the Natives of that land, inscribed with delicate native scrollwork as their offer as the Aorangi Award. Ramapo elected to present this award annually for outstanding service to the club. Nominations are made by club members and recipients are selected by a committee made up of previous winners of the award.
This award has been recognized as the highest honor a member can receive for service to the club.
1965 Red Carruthers
1969 Else Coyle
1973 Ernie Linneman
1977 Phllis Simons & Barbara ‘Sam’ Cain
1981 Erik Simons
1985 Dotti Cummings
1989 Lois Rudden
1993 John Bianco
1997 Pete Gisler
2001 Sue Bogushefsky
2005 June Hockenbeck
2009 Pierce Haviland
2013 Johanna Fleming
2017 Robert Reich
2021 Vesna Haymon
1966 Chet Creutzberg
1970 Al Pierce
1974 Liz Bellamy
1978 Frank Collyer
1982 Bev Salm
1986 Don Mow
1990 Pat Rizzo
1994 George Brew
1998 Barbara Johansson
2002 Nick DeRoda
2006 Bobbi-Jo Rasberger
2010 Ken Klein
2014 Beth Talini Cook
2018 Ritchie Price
2022 Joe Montigelli
1967 Serge Gasparini
1971 Jerre Cain
1975 Lou Polak
1979 Frank Straub
1983 Bill McDonnell
1987 Bill Smellegar
1991 Doris Dessimone
1995 Don Cummings
1999 Dick Johansson
2003 Lee Stausland Kelly
2007 Chris Moog
2011 Elyse Stoller
2015 Carlene Bassell
2019 Maggie Langley
2023 Suzan Longo
1968 Herb Lloyd
1972 Ellen Berdais
1976 Jette Bertelsen
1980 John Devine
1984 Joe Dessimone
1988 Chris Pearsall
1992 Allen Adler
1996 Peg Grossman
2000 Gail Naples
2004 Bruce Kelly
2008 Stu Bassell
2012 Walt Bogushefsky
2016 Charlie Startz
2020 No Award
Elizabeth Farnham Trophy
Elizabeth Farnham was one of the early Treasurers of Ramapo back in the days when the club met at the Eureka House in Suffern. She was vibrant and popular and part of the early group that stormed the heights at North Creek and Mount Peter with their baggy pants and bamboo poles.
It therefore came as a great sadness to the club when she died of cancer in 1953. It just didn’t seem right that someone so young, so healthy and vibrant should be snatched away.
The following year, Skip Wickes and Link Taylor were among the first of Ramapo to make a ski trip to Europe, and while in Zell Am Zee, Austria, they noticed a trophy in a store window which captured their fancy. They bought it and brought it home.
It was decided by the Board of Directors that this would be the Elizabeth Farnham Trophy and would be awarded annually to the Most Improved Skier for that year in the club. It need not go to a racer, but to any member the Instruction and Proficiency Test Committees decide had improved the most. The instructors of Ramapo take notice of the skier who strives to ski better. Every skier present can appreciate the work and dedication that it takes to win this coveted award.
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1954 Connie Personeuous
1958 Leo Grisel
1962 Barbara Cain
1966 Howard Merhtens
1970 June Russell
1974 Rosemary Finnerty
1978 Jim McGrath
1982 M. Novak
1986 Yvonne Roeller
1990 Ann Paffendorf
1994 Bill Sidlovsky
1998 Keith Weller
2002 Chris Moog
2006 Elizabeth Godwin
2010 Christine Pajo
2014 Mary Stephenson
2018 Tara Haymon
2022 Declan O'Connor
1955 Jane Fortman
1959 Joan Wickes
1963 Jack Dailey
1967 Barbara Green
1971 Karen Kineke
1975 John Devine
1979 Dirk McGill
1983 Lois Rudden
1987 Diana Kay
1991 Gloria Bercovitch
1995 Brian Ferguson
1999 David Cook
2003 Gloria Silva
2007 Elizabeth Umbaugh
2011 Maggie Dermond
2015 Maggie Langley
2019 Stu Bassell
2023 Jeff Koenig
1956 Bob Argento​
1960 Bob Summersgill
1964 Charlie Shaw
1968 Barbara Gulakowsk
1972 John Stephan
1976 Greg Jarem
1980 Gretchen Schultz
1984 Carol Nussburge
1988 Toni McCleaver
1992 Al Perini
1996 Estelle Senes
2000 Judy Maragliano
2004 Victoria Withington
2008 Hans Smith
2012 Faizal Khan & Debra Tendler
2016 Karen Lynch
2020 - No Award
1957 Ira”Skip”Wickes
1961 Gary Crothers
1965 -
1969 Gail Secchia
1973 Carol Pierce
1977 Fran McDonnell
1981 Van Eeuwen
1985 Marlene Costa
1989 Pierce Havilland
1993 Arron Kellner
1997 Gail Naples
2001 Ron Hudgens
2005 Carmen Bianco
2009 Iryna Bondarenko
2013 Stephanie Startz
2017 Angel Fraile-Lax
2021 No Award
Frank Filippelli Award
This award is presented each year to the outstanding club instructor. The award was established in 1991 through contributions of club members.
Frank joined Ramapo in 1982 after retiring from his job as Special Agent for the FBI. He soon became “special” to Ramapo. He immediately volunteered to do the snow reports and was able to inject his unique humor that put a smile on everyone’s face. Frank served on several committees and was a frequent user of our lodge. Frank worked hard to improve his skiing and passed the ASIA examination to become a certified instructor. He also enjoyed windsurfing and was often at the Candelmo’s house on Upper Greenwood Lake.
In 1988 while windsurfing in Florida, Frank suffered a fatal heart attack. It is said that even the mortician could not take the smile off Frank’s face. He lived life to the fullest and set an example for the rest of us. It is the volunteer spirit of Frank Filippelli we wish to remember.
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1994 Lois Rudden
1998 Bill Slinn
2002 Bruce Kelly
2006 Bob Reich
2010 Elyse Stoller
2014 Ken Klein
1995 Bill Smellegar
1999 Pierce Haviland
2003 Stu Bassell
2007 Ann Paffendorf
2011 -
2015 Frank Collyer
1996 Lanie McDonnell
2000 Bill Medrano
2004 Paul Paffendorf
2008 Nick DeRoda
2012 Cliff Gawel
2016 -
1997 Lee Stausland Kelly
2001 Howard McArthur
2005 Larry Dean
2009 Lumo Tsungu
2013 Jim Angelone
2017 Suzan Longo
Trifecta Award
The Trifecta award was created in 2018 and is given annually to the winner of the double-elimination tournament which requires competitors to play three separate games (i.e.; darts, billiards and shuffleboard). The purpose of the competition is to stimulate activity and enjoyment during the weekly club meetings. The individual games of the Trifecta may change over the seasons, but there will always be three different games played.
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Boner Award
For bonehead moves that no-one needs to admit to, but everyone knows about. These people won't be listed, but you know who you are!