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Lannie
Social climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Aug 19, 2007 - 11:10am PT
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I remember Pete best against a backdrop of brilliant spring green, the kind of green that takes your breath away because it is so new. Backlit, his blond hair like an aura, that Cheshire cat grin (how is it possible to grin like that), as he hit a croquet ball in one of our Killer Croquet games. Always near Easter, Avery would show up in one of a Molly-hand-me-down adorable outfit. (Pete, are you sure that ball was on that side of the wicket just a second ago ????) Sound of laughter as the balls ended up in a ditch, or outside the barn in the snow. Or Pete as the master of ceremonies in a murder mystery game, Molly (hard to believe) as a vamp (Georgina, wasn't it?)
Like everyone else I am struggling to understand, struggling to wrap my mind around it all. And Molly and Avery, Seamus is fine, happy to be running around. My heart is with you both for the long run. Joan Hamre sends her love and support from Alaska. So do Steph and George from Michigan. Love, Lannie
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brian b
climber
Sarotoga Ca
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Aug 19, 2007 - 12:22pm PT
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Update from Lander –
Last evening there was quite a gathering out at the Absolon’s ranch, the ranch is about 10 miles out of town and is just a beautiful – and there must have been a hundred of the Absolon’s friends there. Walking down the dirt road it was completely apparent why Pete, Molly and Avery love it here in Wyoming.
It’s a very sad time – and there were a lot of tears, but there was a very real sense of joy too – joy for the chance we all had to know Pete. Watching people who did not know each other connect and learn a bit more about his life and his legacy was powerful.
Today is going to be a hard day, as we say goodbye to our friend. It is also a day to give thanks – thanks that he was here, thanks that he made such a positive impact on so many people, thanks that we knew him.
In talking on the blog this past week, and talking to Pete’s many pals last night – I have this feeling that he is looking down on us and saying what’s the big deal – come on – get on with things. He would tell us to do what ever we can to help Molly and Avery. He would tell us to take care of his mom & dad, sisters and John. He would tell his buddies at NOLS to keep the place strong and growing. He would tell the climbing world to keep pushing the envelope. He would tell us all to not do things half assed – to commit and do them really well. He would tell us to help each other out. And most of all, he would tell us to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it is.
I’ll miss you buddy
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ugge lee
Mountain climber
WY
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Aug 19, 2007 - 01:52pm PT
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Like probably everyone I'm still trying to deal with the senselessness and randomness of this accident.
From having known and worked with Pete, the things I most remember:
his smile--genuine and unpretentious
warm affection that touched everyone
when no one else would, "I'll do that"
unflappable enthusiasm
on the rock a smooth and effortless ballet
consummately prepared
down-to-earth
light in his eyes and love in his voice when we spoke of his family
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amy skinner
Social climber
lander, wyoming
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Aug 19, 2007 - 02:35pm PT
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The time we spent last night at Pete, Molly and Avery's place near Red Butte was truly wonderful. Our children ran and played, friends and family hugged and laughed and cried and I was shaken by the absence of so many of our dear friends. I thought of how much Pete, Jim, Todd, Christine, and Amy have taught us during their lives and in our lives since they've left us. I was reminded, yet again, of the strength our community gives us. We have the power to laugh and despair together or alone, knowing that at any moment we can call on our closest companions or a friend who has been gone from our lives for years with the same outcome - support, love, joy.
I didn't know Pete well enough, but I have experienced his love through my friendships with Molly and Avery. It has been a wonderful thing to see this family grow over the years.
Molly - you, along with so many others, have cared for me and my children more than I could ever imagine possible over this past 10 months and my intention is to love you and support you however I can. We miss Todd everyday, as you miss Pete. What rich memories we have to share and celebrate! We'll celebrate Pete's life with you today and everyday.
We love you.
Amy, Hannah, Sarah and Jake Skinner
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Sistermarthashusband
Mountain climber
nj
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Aug 19, 2007 - 04:43pm PT
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Hi Molly & Avery,
Sorry we couldn't be there with you today. We love you and are thinking about you. Sam and Alex love you and hope to see you soon.
It's very hard to make sense of all the thoughts that come to mind. My time with Pete was different from most in that we never had the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors together. This is a real bummer because I love the outdoors. Instead, as the brother-n-law over the past 10 years we spent time together enjoying holiday's with family. I can say Pete was a great family man. One story about Pete comes to mind. Our kids were enjoying a week together in a house at the beach. It was early morning and everyone was just waking up. The house was four stories tall with a walk out on the roof to see the view. Pete calmly tells me he found Avery climbing from the roof lookout onto the slick roof peak. I was like "What?" He said "yea, she climbed onto the roof peak." I couldn't tell if he was scared or proud. Either way he handled it well. He was very calm and did not Panic Avery. I'm sure this is one small sign of Avery's desire to seek great heights in life.
My wife (Martha) always enjoyed her time with her big brother. Words cannot describe how much she admired and loved him. As she works through this difficult time she is becoming more aware of the impact her brother had on so many. This stirs up both great joy and sadness. He will be missed very much and thought of always.
Love,
Kevin, Sam, and Alex
The following picture is one of my favorites. It shows proud dad next to Avery after she just finished coloring her beautiful picture. The picture can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/11735521@N03/1171692923
And more pictures of family events.
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lizf
Social climber
Lander, wy
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Aug 19, 2007 - 05:27pm PT
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Molly, Avery & and all Pete's friends,
Pete was a huge part of the NOLS community. He's loss has put a hole in all our hearts. He will be missed. All of us in the community feel the loss. We must remember to nurture each other. Molly it will take a tremendous amount of courage for you to continue on. My thoughts are with you. Love, Liz Farmer
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Brad J
Mountain climber
New Hampshire
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Aug 19, 2007 - 06:43pm PT
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Dear Molly,
I am in awe of how Pete has touched so many people so very deeply. May their love forever be a source of support and reassurance to you and Avery. You are in my thoughts and in my heart.
Like so many others, I share great fondness and admiration for you and Pete. I feel so fortunate to have spent some precious moments with you just a few weeks ago. Wandering through City Park on my only night in Lander in ten years and there you were - proud parents watching your daughter perform Shakespeare on a warm, summer night. It was a perfect moment that I will always cherish. I feel privileged to be connected to your world and am comforted to know that during this dark time you are in the best care imaginable.
Love,
Brad
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sltsjp
climber
Lander, WY
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Aug 20, 2007 - 02:21am PT
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Dear Molly and Avery:
Our thoughts have been with you all week and today especially we wish we could have been there in person.
I remember a few years ago when Pete accepted his NOLS Employee award he described you both as the bookends that balanced his life. Though the book is thinner now I know you will continue to to celebrate Pete's life and cherish the stories and memories while creating more of your own.
Our love goes out to you from afar.
Shana, Steve and Li
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dbedford
Trad climber
Park City, UT
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Aug 20, 2007 - 09:07am PT
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Pete was one of my mentors as I was cutting my teeth as a climber at Seneca. He was always giving, always smiling, always very hard to keep up with. Our tribe has lost a leader. My heart-felt condolences to his family and the NOLS family.
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PhilS
Mountain climber
Lander, WY
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Aug 20, 2007 - 10:28am PT
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"the Absolon"
I worked a section of a Fall Semester in the Rockies several years ago, and Pete was the liason for the group. The semester didn't have a proctor, so they got to know Pete pretty well. Even though they only saw him once a month or so, his impact was apparent. They called him "the Absolon", as if he were some kind of all-knowing deity, always watching from above. When they were trying to make a decision, they would ask each other "What would the Absolon do?" If one were thinking of being a troublemaker, they would opt not to, because they new the Absolon would find out somehow.
Avery and Molly, and all of us - the Absolon is still watching over, guiding our actions in ways that we may or may not realize. Our thoughts are with you Avery and Molly as you move on with having Pete in your lives in a different way.
Phil, Blair, and Isa
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sister
Social climber
nj
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Aug 20, 2007 - 12:57pm PT
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Dear NOLS and Extended Lander Family,
I want to take a moment and thank you from the very bottom of my heart for the incredible outpouring of love and compassion you have shown our families this past week. We were all completely blown away. Yesterday's Memorial Service was absolutely incredible -- A tribute to a great man -- husband, father, brother, son, climber.
As Pete's little sister -- my heart is completely broken ...but because of all of you, not shattered. Thank you for taking care of Molly and Avery -- and thank you for taking care of our families. You have caught us in the midst of horrifying free fall, thanks.
I heard a lot of incredible things about Pete over the weekend -- but here's one I will never forget. A friend of Pete's once asked him how he could climb these crazy hard climbs ... and actually make them look easy. This friend kept asking Pete for details on what specifically he did, as if to find the perfect recipe for the perfect climb. This friend said, Pete paused, thought about the question for a minute and simply said, "I don't think about falling, I just think ..."UP!"
Well Pete, though full of tears, I'm thinking UP today ... because of you. Bye for now. Say hi to Fritzy!
Your little sister, Martha (aka Bootsie)
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Molly Absolon
climber
Lander, Wyoming
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Aug 20, 2007 - 09:06pm PT
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I just wanted to write and thank everyone who was with us in body or spirit yesterday for Pete's memorial service, and most especially to the friends in Lander who made it happen. It was an absolutely beautiful tribute to Pete and I cherish the tears—and laughs—I shared with people, in person, in letters, or on this forum.
I sense that the forum is winding down and while I know it is probably time and that it has served us well, the end scares me. I will miss the connections and the stories we've shared here; it has helped keep Pete alive for me. But I also understand that we cannot keep doing this forever...that I need to start trying to take those baby steps toward figuring out my life without Pete.
I wish I could make sense of the senselessness of this all, the random act of throwing a rock that has left Avery and me struggling to find our bearings and come to terms with what comes next. Maybe I never will, but knowing that people also share the pain of losing a friend and colleague, knowing how many people recognized the gifts he gave to so many of us all help a little bit. I just wish I had told him more often how much joy he brought into my life.
molly
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LAC
Trad climber
Bogota, Colombia
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Aug 20, 2007 - 09:24pm PT
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Being an international instructor for NOLS, Pete was always there to guide and give constructive feedback at debriefs.
My heart goes to Molly and Avery, strength of the spirit to continue and grow.
Pete was an excelent climber and person, his memory will remain with all who met him!
un abrazo!
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Allison Dittmer
Social climber
Topanga, CA.
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Aug 20, 2007 - 11:03pm PT
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Dear Molly and Avery,
We left Lander this morning after a very beautiful, emotional weekend. I was reminded once again, at the bbq on saturday night and the memorial yesterday, what an incredible community you live in. I wish we hadn't left so abruptly- that I had more time to talk with you, Molly, and gave you another great big squeeze.
You both are so beautiful and poised- smiling with so much life through your teary eyes. I know this time now, as the thread seems to be slowing down, and the weekend is over, must be very hard. Please know that celebrating Pete's life , loving him, having wonderful adventures- these things will continue. We will all make sure of that. We love you and believe in you.
love, Allison, Jason and Casey
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katiebaum
climber
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Aug 20, 2007 - 11:17pm PT
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Molly and Avery,
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. I feel very far from Lander at this moment, and so wish I could have been there to celebrate Pete's life and to grieve with you yesterday. Please know that your family has been in my thoughts all week, and will continue to be. I am so grateful for the limited interactions I had with the two of you and with Pete over the last four years in and around Lander. Pete counseled me in my efforts to make a life and a career for myself at NOLS, and encouraged me as a cautious and tentative climber. He is one of the strong, gentle and vibrant souls that brought me to NOLS in the first place and that, ultimately, are the reason that I stay.
And simply co-existing with the three of you in this community has inspired in me the now strong belief that climbing and work and other passions in this life are not incompatible with nurturing a close and loving family. Believing in that, I think, has changed my life. Thank you for the inspiration.
I am struck still by the terror of this news and, like so many others, I am struggling to find words to express my sadness and the depth of sympathy I feel for you, now and in the weeks, months, years to come. Pete was an amazing individual who touched us all. I wish there was something more to say that would make a difference for you now... May you find strength and peace in the love you shared and the light that shone from his life.
Yours in sadness and in celebration,
Katie Baum
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Michelle L. Escudero
climber
Lander, WY
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Aug 20, 2007 - 11:40pm PT
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Hello friends,
I have not had the head space to read this tribute to Pete. I will wait for a night when all the lights are low, grab a glass of red wine and read on...but I wanted to at least join the crowd in sending Molly and Avery my love.
We had an amazing celebration of Pete's life here in Lander on Sunday. So many faces filled with grief yet at the sametime filled with the comfort of family and friends. I have attached below what I said during the memorial celebration.
Molly, thanks for walking to the falls today. It was exactly what I needed to clear my head. Avery, thanks for being Bravery Avery and going down the slide. You are awesome!
Michelle Escudero
Family for Pete meant the Absolon and Armbrecht families and also the Lander family, the NOLS family, and many more communities to which Pete gave his talent, energy and enthusiasm.
Pete-n-Molly,like parallel tracks in fresh snow, Molly-n-Pete. Then, Pete-n-Molly evolved into Pete-n-Molly and Avery: the Threesome. My threesome has always held their threesome up as the role model. "How did they make it look so easy?" I would ask Scott. Well, the simple truth is that it wasn’t always easy. Yet, their relationship was based on deep mutual respect for each as individuals: Molly the fire, Pete the steady force that helped smooth the way. It was a balancing act: give, take, mine, yours, ours. You climb; I ride. You go; I come. Then, us together again; let’s go.
Avery was not just along for the ride but as an integral part of the adventure. Who would have guessed that a 3-month old would be hanging out at the cliff being passed around from friend–to-friend? Pete and Molly allowed us to become Avery’s uncles and aunts. They taught us how to be a family. They taught me that family time is sacred time not to be filled with life’s obligations but guarded as a time to share, learn and do.
I have written something for Molly about Pete the extra-ordinary family man. For me it’s the small things that defined Pete not his super-human athletic feats.
Family
Pete: son, grandson, brother, cousin, nephew, uncle
Pete: friend, companion
Pete: lover, partner
Pete: colleague
Pete: father
Pete: life-long companion
Family: a triangle
The angles: self, partner, father
The balancing act: self, partner, father
Molly dressed in miniskirt and low-cut shirt with visible cleavage (the first of her life) and a big, swollen belly. Pete: Molly is the most beautiful thing in the world. I just can’t take my eyes off her. Pete as lover.
Pete: How can you fall in love in an instant? Pete as day-old dad.
Molly’s not home. Conversation flows. Pete talks of sleeping on the couch with Avery nestled on his chest. Packing her up for her nightly sleep-inducing drive or push. Diapers. Breast feeding. The balancing act. Pete has transformed into a chatty guy filled with wonder of being Avery’s Dad. Pete as New Dad.
How did you spend your birthday with Molly away? Pete: It was amazing. Avery knew that it was my special day. Dressed in her fancy dress, party shoes and many hair accessories, Aves and I went out for a special dinner. My little girl was becoming my big girl. Pete as Prince.
Pete: Today we are gathered here to celebrate our 18th anniversary. I married the most amazing woman. She makes me happier then I can imagine. Pete flipping elk, passing the beer, bonfire, camper and coffee in bed. Later the most elegant Thanksgiving ever held in a 2-car garage. As we gave thanks, our community brought true meaning to this celebration. Pete as the guy that new how to throw a party by pulling together community.
Molly, I do not love you for who you are but for what I am when I am with you.
I suffer from a back injury. Pete stops by my house. I am with Magdalena—red-faced as I nurse in front of Pete. Pete sits down next to me. Stays with me. He offers encouragement, comfort. Pete as friend.
Pete calls from the Jersey shore. I’m in charge of dinner tonight. I need the chicken curry recipe. Yep the lemon’s the secrete. Pete calls from the backcountry. I’ve just got an elk. I am way far from any road. Actually, I don’t exactly know where I am. Can you get a message to Molly—I’m going to be really late for our dinner date? Pete as the consummate Provider.
Pete, Molly and Avery the triangle—paddling off in a canoe. Avery atop a little beach chair strapped onto the deck. Pete in the stern, Molly in the bow. Molly shouting orders. Pete calmly maneuvering down river. Pete keeping the triangle together.
Molly, He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest.
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong. (Funeral Blues, W. H. Auden)
Molly, we will help raise Avery and keep Pete’s memory alive and share more adventures. Ted get your skies out. Gary get the mountain bike ready. Scott no hiding your dancing shoes. Willy sharpen the skates. Gary get the climbing shoes re-soled. John it’s show time fairies and all. Mark pack up; we’re heading to the canyons. Ben grab the paddles, it’s boating time. We all are each other’s family.
A piece of us is missing with Pete not here, but we are so much more because of Pete and the way he treated us as family. Through the years we will mourn; we will celebrate; and we will share life’s journey just as Pete shared with us.
Michelle Escudero
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nancysiegel
climber
seattle, WA
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Aug 21, 2007 - 01:26am PT
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Dear Molly,
I have thought of you and Pete so much this past week, and cried many tears for you and your families as I have read the thoughts that people have shared here. Please know that I am holding you and Avery close to my heart.
I don’t remember exactly when I met you and Pete, you are both just there in my NOLS memory. I am so sad for your loss… and so glad that you are well-cared for as you find your way in these first weeks after Pete’s leaving. Although you are the one who has to travel this road one foot in front of the other, I know your community and family will continue to carry you through the days ahead.
It has been a long time since our paths have crossed, and somehow it feels recent that we were paddling together on the Main Salmon (that must have been back in 1995...) I carry a picture of you and Pete in my mind from that trip, smiling, vibrant, alive, and so close with each other. I am grateful for knowing you both.
I am sorry to miss sharing the celebration of Pete’s life with you and the NOLS community yesterday. My love to you and Avery,
Nancy Siegel
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Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
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Aug 21, 2007 - 01:36am PT
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The Memorial Service presented by the Lander community was beautiful. Thank you for your out pouring of support to those of us who came so far. We will miss Lander...we will miss Pete...
Special Eulogy Presented by Mary Absolon, Pete's sister.
On behalf of our parents, Mary and Karel Absolon and all the rest of the Absolons, we thank you.
We especially thank you for being present to Peter during his life in such a positive way and for
respecting him so highly as a professional. He loved you all and still does. He loved the work you do. He
loved the friends he had everywhere. He loved the family he married into. He loved the Lander area. He
dearly loved his wife. He enthusiastically loved his daughter. He had serenity in his life and we are all the
better for this because it is a whole lot more fun being with someone who is living out their passions!
So..how does one grasp what has happened here and what meaning this has to our lives?
So..how does one get one’s arms around what the loss within one family of not only one son, but two sons means?
Can this be true that we are going through this again? How can this be?
And my brother --- my dear, dear brother Pete. No, please make it not be true…
How does one take comfort at a time like this?
These and so many questions have tortured us over the past few days since learning of Pete’s death-
“Pete’s death” God I hate those words. They are painful to my heart.
But what we want is not what is to be and out of this we move forward
to a different serenity for each of us.
And so here we are gathered us Absolons to share with you-- our Pete.
The name Peter means Steadfast Rock and he did this every day of his life.
_
Peter had an uncanny ability to just be able to get anything for him he wanted. He had that cute grin & positive disposition that made this easy. So as a child & with these innate personality characteristics, it was not surprising, Pete was THE KID who always seemed to weezle anything out of Mom -- from GI Joes and all the equipment, to Roy Rogers with all the horse gear, to the best camping gear. Pete, knew how to get things done– he was smoooooth even as child!
___
Long before Molly came into our lives, Pete was a wrestler – you see this was his early formative years. He was getting his body ready for those future climbs that were awaiting every muscle in his body-he had a great body.
Wrestlers are tough and that is what life is – tough – but those wrestlers learn to go into the ring one on one with their head held high – and then shake hands at the end of a match – and give um a smile. The wrestling ring trained Pete to be a gracious winner and loser.
Us Absolons are achievers. We were surrounded with this as we grew up. We knew that we were to be contributors to society, to work hard, get a good education, and be excellent!
My Dad would say, “whatever you do – do your best.”
You see - our role models were cave explorers in the Czech Republic, physicians with public institutions named after them in Minnesota & a medical history library in North Carolina named after my Dad, explorers of prehistoric relics. Why there is even a microscopic bug named – you got it – the Absolonie.
So you see, this is what our Pete carried away from home when he left to make his way in the world over 20 years ago. And he carried on this legacy so well as we all now know.
_
Pete’s world changed when he met Mary Willoughby Armbrecht – our Molly.
One meaning of the name Molly is “Living Fragrance”.
Molly was truly THE fragrance that gave Pete a new life and he flourished with her in wonderful ways.
He shared this about her when they first met….. “I liked the way she moved on the rocks…”
It was not long that he accompanied her to Berkeley and even stopped in Minnesota on the way out so he could show her off!
Pete loves Molly. He adores Molly. He just loved being with her. He was smitten from the time they met – and we were so very, very happy for them!
Before we knew it they were living in Lander and making a life for themselves.
Pete was not perfect.
You know when two people are as down home in love as Pete and Molly are, it’s really hard to learn about any “issues”, but………… being the older sister I am, this happened one time unexpectedly and I learned of one!
I asked Molly, are there any nick names you call Pete?
She looked at Pete with her “Molly smile” and out came with-- “Piddles”!
Pete looked at her a bit stunned.
Then I quickly said, “I know where that comes from. He never puts the toilet seat up before peeing & I lived with that!”
We all laughed….
I have a feeling there were dry seats from that day on at the Absolon house
__
Avery brought new smiles to Pete’s face. When she was born, he was so excited we thought he would relapse and need to be called Piddles again!
Pete knew how to be a Daddy. He taught Avery how to walk on the ceiling with help from Dad, use the “ropes” when climbing and guided her most recently in her acting career as a princess.
These life skills appropriately fit Avery whose name means- Noble and Strong.
Her foundation of who she will be as a person is sound and nothing will change that. Pete made sure of that while he was with us here.
Avery remember --- noble and strong
_
Pete loved Wyoming and his life out here with Avery and Molly. Pete was our master of ceremonies during our big 2003 trip out west and relished showing us his life out here.
He wanted his family to love and enjoy what he was passionate about. To this end, Pete greeted us with two huge canoes roped to his truck roof. We had a fabulous canoe trip down the Snake River with him and Aves-we were in the front row seats of his home in Wyoming and he treated us like royalty. He showed us a great restaurant with exquisite food in Jackson – that only the locals knew about.
Before we knew it, we then were in Lander climbing on the wall in the garage that Pete made. We viewed their land with “red rock” , enjoyed Avery on her horse and just liked our time together being with them. This memory was capped off when Molly and Pete gave us a picture of Signal Mountain as a Christmas gift which we now have in our den.
__
Pete loved sushi… when we were on Times Square in New York City after seeing an awesome production of the Lion King, he insisted we go to a sushi bar.
Pete knew his sushi! He ordered and we sat back enjoyed the evening with my dear brother, sister in law and niece.
___
Pete and Molly were married shortly after our son Chris was born – in 1988. Pete and Chris shared a lot in common with each other as Chris loves the outdoors, was a wrestler, is an Eagle scout.
Pete said for years, “godda come out and do a NOLS course, just godda do it..”
Then when our daughter Molly started with a outdoor rival competitor – Widji – that is Camp Widjiwagen in Northern Minnesota on the BWCA, Pete rassed us more!
Pete would kid us and say, “You’re going to “Widji” – doing things the “widji” way – so when are you coming to NOLS?”
Last October, this came together. Pete guided Chris’ choice with his #1 recommendation being the Semester in Alaska.
This was by the fate in our lives one of the last gifts from Pete given to our family. Chris says, “ Mom everyone knows Pete.”
Chris now knows NOLS and that is knowing the Pete – that is breathing Pete – that is sweating with Pete
– that is smiling with Pete – that is experiencing the passion of a lifetime with Pete -- as Pete’s spirit is
intertwined in this organization. WE thank you for givinf us the living gift of Pete through our son Chris.
Mom & Dad --- you have now lost a second son.
As Pete would say, it’s a “bummer”.
You have done a great job with each of us. Thank you. We will be here your whole life.
___
Avery – your Daddy is always at your side as he now is your invisible friend that sits on your shoulder.
He is with you and will keep you safe your whole life. We will share and talk about your Daddy when we
are together always.
We will look forward to getting together and having fun. We will ALWAYS be here for you all the days of your life in a special way. Please come to us – just come.
And by the way…when and if you need a stand in for your Dad, we have some great NOLS wanta bes waiting for you!
___
Molly
Remember early on in your marriage, Pete and Bill came back from the store…..and brought us “twin
gifts” -- that little “I love you” stand. Just like this stand represents, his arms were always there you.
We love you very much.
We miss him so much -- as do you.
Your 19 wonderful years of marriage together are living gift-you are blessed.
You enjoyed wonderful trips…..conversation---intimacy
We are so happy that Pete had it all as your spouse. Thank you, thank you for freely giving this to Pete.
__
Our lives will move on.
We look forward to this new path with its ups and downs; know we are there for you always with our
arms open just as Pete’s always will be.
_
So …..as Pete would say ……..…
”gotta go”……
”seeee ya”…..
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KP
Trad climber
Fayetteville, WV
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Aug 21, 2007 - 11:33am PT
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I too am an old friend of Pete's from the Seneca days. The news of Pete's death was a blow to something deep inside of me. As a young aspiring climber in the early eighties I looked up to Pete as a mentor. His climbing abilities were always impressive and his attitude about climbing was filled with humility. He was the epitome of competence and always encouraging of those around him. Pete of all climbers of the day represented the true spirit of Seneca. He was a real hard man, pushing new routes, repeating classics as well as others new lines, but always respecting the traditions of Seneca. But above all he was a great person.
I am sure there are many people from those days who feel the same way I do and do not know of this tragedy. Many have left climbing and may not keep up with it anymore. Life takes us all in different directions and it is tough to keep up with old friends.
With all of that said (and I could say a lot more about Pete as you all know) I would like to try and organize a Seneca memorial of some sort for Pete. Maybe this fall a gathering at The Gendarme to say farewell to Pete Absolon, who is a true Seneca legend, would be a small thing to do in memory of a great person. If anyone out there has contact with Seneca and New River climbers from that era please contact them and hopefully we can make this happen.
My condolences to Molly, Avery, and all of Pete's family and many friends. My thoughts are with you.
Kenny Parker
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KIMBERLY
climber
St Simons Island GA
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Aug 21, 2007 - 12:56pm PT
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Molly,
All day on Sunday I thought about you and Avery. I sat in church and prayed that your day would be sunny, warm and a light breezy might touch you as you were surrounded by all your friends and family. The reasons for what happened are not ours to disern but the blessing of the life you have had are
beautiful. I am so very sorry for you and Avery. I so remember your wedding many years ago and meeting Pete. What a delightful person! The memories of our childhood tell us we are invincible yet the powers beyond us mold us into different characters as we mature. The waves and ebbs in our life will reveal one day what we have been molded into and that invincibility will give way to our character. Please know that you are in my prayers and that I am thinking of you and Avery. I will write to you soon. Kim
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