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Dave Sessions
Trad climber
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - Mar 14, 2016 - 02:42pm PT
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Dear friends, my dad, George Sessions, passed away on leap day - February 29th - after a short but difficult struggle with stomach cancer.
We'll be having a memorial for him at Sierra College in Rocklin, California sometime next month and I'll update this page when the details become available.
Please feel free to comment or post photos.
David Sessions
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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Mar 14, 2016 - 02:52pm PT
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Sorry to hear the news. He was a big part of the Fresno climbing scene in the 1950's, but I didn't meet him until 1970 in Tuolumne Meadows. Very sorry for your loss.
John
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SC seagoat
Trad climber
Santa Cruz, Moab, A sailboat, or some time zone
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Mar 14, 2016 - 03:04pm PT
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I'm sorry for your Dads passing. May your memories carry you through this tough time.
He sounds like an adventurous guy!
Susan
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Tricouni
Mountain climber
Vancouver
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Mar 14, 2016 - 03:11pm PT
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I'm sorry to hear this. I never met your dad, but I heard great things about him from others. Best wishes.... Glenn
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SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
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Mar 14, 2016 - 03:39pm PT
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I didn't know your father, but sincere condolences to you and
your family.
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Clint Cummins
Trad climber
SF Bay area, CA
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Mar 14, 2016 - 04:13pm PT
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Sorry to hear about your dad.
For folks who don't recognize his name, here are his FAs and FFAs from the Yosemite guidebooks, 1954-59:
 Spireview Point 5.6 - George Sessions, Dick Irvin, 4/1954; FFA: Greg Schaffer, Henry Mitchell, 1965
Bear Rock - Bolt Route 5.3 A1 - George Sessions, Mike Schuler, Wayne Simpson, Noel Shirley, 1957
Lower Watkins Pinnacle A3 - Mark Powell, Herb Swedlund, Wally Reed, George Sessions, Merle Alley, 7/1957
Arches Terrace 5.8 R * - Rich Calderwood, Merle Alley, 12/1957; FFA: Merle Alley, Rich Calderwood, John Ohrenschall, George Sessions, 1958
Pohono Pinnacle - North Face 5.6 - George Sessions, Felix Knauth, 1958
Penny-Nickle Arete 5.7 A2 - Chuck Pratt, George Sessions, Krehe Ritter, 1958
Ahwahnee Buttress 5.10d A0 - George Sessions, George Whitmore, Jerry Dixon, Merle Alley, 5/1959; FFA: Dave Sessions, Tucker Tech, 4/1989
Pretty cool Dave - you got the FFA on one of your dad's routes!
A quote from George Sessions starts this chapter of the Camp 4 book by Steve Roper (scanned by Steve Grossman).
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pyro
Big Wall climber
Calabasas
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Mar 14, 2016 - 04:18pm PT
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Sorry Dave..
RIP
edit Beautiful picture of ur DAD.. see you around the Boulderdash
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BLUEBLOCR
Social climber
joshua tree
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Mar 14, 2016 - 04:56pm PT
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Dave, i'm really sorry for your loss.
My sincere condolences to your loved ones.
It is really neat you got to climb your dad's route. i am interested in why you choose Sierra College as the memorial spot? Is your family from that area? Just wondering if we might have family friends from the past. My family is from that area, and i went to Sierra back in 82'.
RIP George.
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apogee
climber
Technically expert, safe belayer, can lead if easy
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Mar 14, 2016 - 05:02pm PT
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No drift intended, but...is this the same George Sessions that co-wrote Deep Ecology?
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rottingjohnny
Sport climber
Shetville , North of Los Angeles
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:03pm PT
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Dave...Met your dad on a ledge of Cathedral Peak back in 78...He seemed pretty sharp and funny to...He said i reminded him of a climbing friend by the name of Merle Alley...Condolonces..
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Gary
Social climber
Where in the hell is Major Kong?
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:14pm PT
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Is it safe to say he had a good run? RIP
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Eric Beck
Sport climber
Bishop, California
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:18pm PT
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George would show up in Camp 4 with consistently gorgeous girlfriends.
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Gnome Ofthe Diabase
climber
Out Of Bed
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:36pm PT
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RESPECT !
I hope your dad passed in peace, and that you & your family can, after grieving, reach a state of acceptance. Happy in the knowledge of the great life and the Light that your father brought to all his fine achievements.
I hope this is appropriate;
My father had an esophageal growth and soon chose drastic surgical intervention.
He never left the hospital, and the month and a half, or so, was brutal on all of us.
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feralfae
Boulder climber
in the midst of a metaphysical mystery
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:46pm PT
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My condolences to you and your family on the loss of your Father.
He had a very good run, and a life of meaning and purpose, finding a way to bring together his vocation and his avocation, demonstrating the elegance of that synthesis which made him a very good teacher and philosopher. He lived a life worth celebrating.
As you move through you grief, please let us know how you and your family are doing from time to time.
Peace to your heart.
feralfae
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
The finger of fate, my friends, is fickle.
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Mar 14, 2016 - 07:48pm PT
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My condolence for the loss of your dad, Dave. His passing leaves a bit of a hole in California's climbing history.
I've known of George's role in developing routes in the Valley ever since I began associating with my mentor, Dillis Millis, who knew many of the fifties/sisties veteran climbers.
We never did meet back in my day, the late sixties and the seventies, but my brother-in-law, Marc Irwin, attended Sierra College. He met George there, and told me that George was actively involved in rock climbing instruction there, I believe, and probably had a teaching gig, but I don't know. This was around 1977. (Dave can fill us in on his relationship with SC, I'm sure.)
It's a tough loss, your father, and I deeply share your feelings, as do many more of us. Hang in there, Dave.
+1 for Beck's pithy accolade
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Dave Sessions
Trad climber
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2016 - 08:35pm PT
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Dad was always very proud of being part of the 'Fresno Boys' and the mid-50's period that became known as the Powell-era. I'm going to update some of his exploits once I get the chance to review some of his notes and logs...
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Fat Dad
Trad climber
Los Angeles, CA
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Mar 14, 2016 - 08:42pm PT
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Dave, I met you a few times back in the early 80s when I was climbing with Bob and Matt Beach and some of the other St. Ignatius boys from the City. Think you were strutting around in a black cape or something. Never met your dad but remembering seeing his name in the green Roper guide. My condolensces to you and your family. Your dad looked like he lived life well. We should all be so lucky.
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Dave Sessions
Trad climber
Thousand Oaks, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Mar 14, 2016 - 08:44pm PT
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He came to Sierra in about 1968 and had the opportunity to head up the philosophy department for ages before partially retiring. He loved the opportunity to escape during the summer that teaching provided. He continued to teach part-time until only a couple years ago, so all-in-all he was there nearly 50 years.
And yes - his passion was environmentalism. He loved John Muir. And David Brower. In fact, he named me after Brower. After discovering the writings of Norwegian philosopher Arne Naess, who he told me last month was like a father to him, he became the co-founder of Deep Ecology.
btw... thanks so much for all the warm comments.
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