SAM Magazine—Princeton, Mass., Nov. 21, 2024—Wachusett Mountain co-owner and ski industry leader David Crowley died Wednesday, Nov. 20. He was 69. 

Crowley succumbed to a rare degenerative neurological disease called progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP. He was diagnosed several years ago. There is no known cure. 

Wachusett shared the news on its website: “We are deeply saddened to share that David Crowley has passed away at home this morning. He was surrounded by the love of family. He lived a grand life and was blessed with the gift of so many friends and coworkers at Wachusett. We are so thankful for your support and we know we all have our favorite David stories and memories to share and revel in. David was bigger than life and he loved working at Wachusett and being a part of such a great family and experience. It’s up to David Sr. now to work over the Snow Gods in our favor. He’s for sure on a trip of a lifetime. We will be dedicating the 2024/2025 ski season to David’s memory and the fight against PSP.”

Crowley’s ski industry career spanned nearly 50 years. “His creativity and innovations were legendary in turning [Wachusett] from a small local ski hill to one of the best known and most respected mid-sized ski resorts in the United States,” reads a tribute to him on Wachusett’s website. “He was a constant reminder to the Wachusett staff of what draws so many people to the ski business in the first place—selling fun and having fun doing it!”

In addition, Crowley sat on several boards of directors and was a leader in various other organizations including SnoCountry (formerly the New England Ski Areas Council), the National Ski Areas Association, the Worcester and North Central Mass Chamber of Commerce, and numerous other local and charitable organizations.

An avid skier, Crowley continued to enjoy sliding on snow after his PSP diagnosis, utilizing a sit-ski with the assistance of Wachusett’s adaptive program staff. Wachusett and the Crowley family started an annual event called the David Crowley Race to Cure PSP (aka Ski with David to Cure PSP). The event raises funds to benefit clinical care and research programs at the Mass General Hospital Frontotemporal Disorders Unit.

“David lived such a full life that I aspire to live the rest of mine half as well as he did his!” said his sister and Wachusett VP and co-owner Carolyn Stimpson.

Read the entire tribute to David Crowley HERE.

For more information and to donate to the Ski with David for PSP effort, go HERE.