Daniel Schiavone Obituary

Daniel Schiavone, the father of longtime La Plata County residents Joel and Dominic, died Friday, May 28, 2010, in Denver. The cause of death was injuries suffered after going over the handlebars of his bicycle. He was 81.

Known as "Dan," he was born Daniel Lionel and Edna Schiavone on June 18, 1928, in San Francisco. His mother died shortly after delivering him.

He graduated from Lowell High School and went on to serve in the Marine Corps.

Mr. Schiavone graduated from the University of Southern California, where he received the Order of the Palm for the outstanding senior in his graduating class. It was during this period that he discovered surfing and began skiing.

Sally Ballantyne caught his eye in the Alpine Café, while both were working for Sun Valley Resort, Idaho, in the winter of 1952. They married in 1953 in Perrysburg, Ohio, in a double wedding with her twin sister.

The Schiavones moved to Europe to teach in the overseas dependent school system in 1954. They taught in Orleans, France, and Paris, then moved to Germany to teach in Munich and, finally, in Bad Toelz. The family stayed in Europe for 32 years until their return to Sun Valley in 1986.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Schiavone worked for the Sun Valley Ski School after their return, and Mr. Schiavone was still teaching at the time of his death.

His family remembers Mr. Schiavone as disciplined and organized. In Europe, he would arise each morning at 5:30 a.m., exercise for half an hour and then study a language for an hour before school. He taught himself five languages and was able to speak four fluently. Each night before going to bed, he would set out his breakfast, with the cereal already poured in the bowl.

Mr. Schiavone was an early backcountry skier. Throughout the three decades from the late 1950s to the late 1980s, he, his friends and sons would use ski area lifts to access the backcountry from the tops of the Alps. Once they were crossing a large slope in Davos, Switzerland, when the slope released. All seven skiers were buried, and Mr. Schiavone was buried more than 3 yards deep. Before the snow packed down around him, he created an air pocket by rapidly moving his arms, which allowed him to survive for 45 minutes until rescuers found him with dogs and probes. Five of the other skiers were killed.

His other passion was tennis, which he taught and played competitively.

"His life is a testament to how much can be done with a healthy attitude, and how long one can pursue youthful activities," his family said.

Mr. Schiavone is survived by his wife of 57 years, Sally Schiavone, of Ketchum, Idaho; sons Joel Schiavone and Dominic Schiavone, both of Durango; sister, Helen McConnell, of Los Gatos, Calif; and three grandchildren.

Cremation has occurred, and a private service will be held. Mr. Schiavone's ashes will be scattered from the top of Engineer Mountain.