Obituary of Dee Read

Dee Read (nee Burden) passed away quickly at the Foothills Medical Centre on May 8, 2004. Born in Montreal, QC on June 21, 1926, a life-long devotion to the out of doors was developed from a young age in the Laurentians north of Montreal, as a camper and counselor at Camp Ouareau and skier with the Penguin Ski Club of St. Adele. She became one of Canada’s most accomplished ski racers, winning the 1948 Dominion Championship at Mt. Norquay. She attended McGill University graduating in 1948 with a Bachelor of Science. Marrying John Read in 1948, raising her children became her focus along with her passion for gardening, golf and skiing. The ski family was her life. From her background as a competitor, she shared this experience in many leadership positions including Alpine Chair for the Alberta Alpine Ski Association, Board Member for Alpine Canada and as a respected Technical Delegate of the International Ski Federation. Dee would volunteer for any task at a ski race, from course control to gatekeeping. In her later years she continued to enjoy attending many provincial, national and international alpine and ski jumping events to watch her grandchildren and also follow the progress of many aspiring potential Olympians from Alberta and across Canada. In addition to her love for ski racing, Dee was a devoted Ski Friend of Lake Louise, guiding visitors from around the world and sharing her passion for skiing and the Canadian Rockies. This life-long dedication to athletes and sport was recognized by the Calgary Booster Club who named her Sportsman of the Year in 1990 and by the Canadian Ski Museum who inducted her into the Canadian Ski Hall of Fame as an athlete and a builder of the sport in 2001. Pre-deceased by her husband John, she is survived by a loving family including four children Jan Coleman (Rick), Ron Read (Laura), Ken Read (Lynda) and Jim Read (Heather) and nine Grandchildren, Kim and Dave Coleman, Andrew and Stefan Read, Erik, Kevyn and Jeffrey Read, Taylor and Tianna Read. A celebration of Dee’s remarkable life will be held at McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Chapel of the Bells (2720 Centre Street North) on Thursday, May 13, 2004 at 2:30 P.M.. To forward condolences go to www.mcinnisandholloway.com. As she devoted her life to skiing and to raising awareness of cystic fibrosis, which afflicted her grandson Andrew, in lieu of flowers donations would be appreciated to either the Canadian Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at 512, 206 – 7th Avenue S.W., Calgary, AB., T2P 0W4 Tel: (403) 266-5295 or to the Dee Read Fund for Athlete Development at Alberta Alpine Ski Association 88 Canada Olympic Road S.W., Calgary, AB., T3B 5R5 Tel: (403) 247-5600. In living memory of Dee Read, a tree will be planted at Nose Creek Valley by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Chapel of the Bells, 2720 Centre Street North, CALGARY, TELEPHONE: (403) 276-2296.