Saranac Lake mourns loss of ski instructor, historian

SARANAC LAKE | On some rare, fine days, stars just line upright and you get a chance in this job to feel time standstill. You can tell because as the conversation reaches into the past, the past pulls back, even as you feel it roll gently forward like some ripple in a mountain brook bubbling toward the sea. It was so in any timeless hour spent with skier, instructor, historian, mother, grandmother, friend, sage, and local treasure, Natalie Bombard Leduc, who seemed an endless source of new ideas that fired the future like a torch. She was a mover of mountains, keeper of the best stories. Leduc died Dec. 8 at age 90. She was born in Saranac Lake on Sept. 10, 1930, the daughter of Doug and Charlotte Littlejohn Bombard. The loss hit many folks hard, including leaders at organizations she helped start, support or otherwise infuse with energy and insight. Her reach was vast. She had a remarkable ability to unleash the human spirit on skis and taught thousands of children to enjoy the sport, having run Saranac Lake elementary school and Mount Pisgah ski programs for over 40 years. "Oh, it was such a great joy, great joy, and freedom," she told me. Her youth was filled with winter sport adventures. She was one of the first women to attend Paul Smith's College and later taught physical education there and skiing at Whiteface; she had skied with college teams at Paul Smith's and at St. Lawrence University, racing in slalom, alpine and Nordic ski competition. She became a world-renowned ski sports historian and founding member of the International Skiing Historical Association. A woman of many firsts: Leduc was the only woman to race in the inaugural Willard Hanmer Guideboat Race in 1963; the first young woman to race on the boys ski teams because there weren't teams for girls. One day we spent an entire afternoon discussing the origins of Mount Pisgah Ski Center, the initial design of its rope tow and motor as chronicled in four pages written for her by the builder, Curt Wamsganz. He put the first tow at Donnelly's hill, and called the ski run "Skyview." The tow later helped build Pisgah. The famous Donnelly's ice cream stand was once the ticket booth for Skyview. We marveled at Wamsganz's detailed memory of the Norwegian sailor, here to cure of tuberculosis, who spliced the rope into a single loop, without gloves in sub-zero temperatures. She even had the original recipe for Mount Pisgah Cake. Leduc spent countless hours over the past 20 years helping raise thousands of dollars for new lifts at Pisgah, a new lodge and trails at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center. She was a cornerstone at Friends of Mount Pisgah. She served as president of the Pine Ridge Cemetery Association; on the local American Red Cross Board; and as chairwoman of High Peaks Hospice. She also was a realtor. Historic Saranac Lake now holds some of her history collection. Other items and books are held in the Adirondack Reading Room at the Saranac Lake Free Library. "Natalie fiercely championed all things Saranac Lake, past and present, and she lived an amazing life. We just won't be the same without her," Historic Saranac Lake directors said. TRIBUTES Heartfelt and poignant memories have erupted in online public tributes. Kristin Parker said she and her husband bought Leduc's house four years ago, and live there near Mount Pisgah with their young family. "She LOVED Mt Pisgah. She LOVED Pine Ridge Cemetery. She loved her dog, Joe, and her cat, Black Cat. She LOVED so many people, making them all feel so good and she LOVED the Adirondacks. We visited her at Will Rogers many, many times. She loved our visits and we really loved them too," Parker said in a tribute on Facebook. "During one of our last visits, she asked me to do a favor for her... I said 'sure' not knowing what it was. She handed me a big piece of wood with a painting on it. It's a painting of her with a halo and the words "GONE SKIING". She then said, 'Kris, when I die, will you please hang this on my gravestone?' Yes, Natalie. I will," Parker promised. "Enjoy the slopes, Natalie." Founders at Dewey Mountain Recreation Center grieved the loss of a great friend. "Natalie Leduc was synonymous with Saranac Lake skiing. As a young girl, she enjoyed skiing up and around Dewey Mountain before there were established trails and before it was a proper ski area. She and her friends would spend their days in these woods, often making their way to the top of the mountain where they would build a fire and have a 'weenie roast.' "Natalie was a dedicated supporter and advocate of Dewey Mountain. She played a central role in building the new lodge, designing the new trails, and simply supporting Saranac Lake kids' ski pursuits. "We'll miss Natalie terribly. Next time you're on the trails, take note of the trail called Nat Ski, named for this classy, smart, and talented woman." From her obituary: Natalie Leduc is survived by her sons Douglas (Arlana) Corl of Alaska, Michael Corl of New Hampshire, her two daughters: Deborah Black of Burlington, Vermont, and Kathleen (Richard) Leidig of Saranac Lake. Her brother Doug (Marie Louise) Bombard of Manlius and Jon (Ria) Bombard of Saranac Lake. Natalie is also survived by her grandchildren: Terra (Greg) Rogers, William (Gina) Leidig, Sean Corl, Mike Corl, Scott Maher, Jennifer (Adam) Largess, and her step-granddaughter Maria (Keith) Braun. Funeral Arrangements are in the care of the Fortune-Keough Funeral Home in Saranac Lake. A memorial service will be scheduled in the spring at a date and time convenient for the family. Burial will be in springtime at Pine Ridge Cemetery. Memorial contributions to honor the memory of Natalie Leduc can be made to Historic Saranac Lake: historicsaranaclake.org/ Historic Saranac Lake interview with Natalie Leduc: /localwiki.org/hsl/Natalie_Leduc_Interview Natalie Leduc obituary: Fortune Keough Funeral Home: fortunekeoughfuneralhome.com

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Saranac Lake mourns loss of ski instructor, historian

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