Discussion Topic |
|
This thread has been locked |
KB lander
Trad climber
Lander
|
|
I still come here and Pete still comes to parties. He blessed our home warming party with one big, cool rainbow.
Thanks for coming Pete - KB
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
Hope you're doing better, Molly!
|
|
MWhite
Social climber
Lander
|
|
|
Aug 10, 2009 - 04:22pm PT
|
I can hardly believe that tomorrow marks the 2 year anniversary of Pete's death. I still think of Pete quite often and all that he was and continues to be for his family, friends and community: a man of great integrity, passion, adventure, athleticism, and compassion for others.
Molly and Avery, I am so glad that you two have emerged from the hell of losing Pete with such grace. You're both remarkable and admirable. I'll go walk on your property tomorrow, say hi to Pete, and send all of you my love.
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Aug 10, 2009 - 11:04pm PT
|
Hi Everyone:
The Absolons just had a wonderful family vacation together with cousins galore last week. We relaxed knowing that this two year "anniversary" loomed around the corner.
We talked about Pete. We miss him a ton. We looked and laughed at old family movies of Peter as little boy with his crew cut that Avery thought "was so funny". We saw his distinctive walk and his smirky smile. And, we saw him early in his climbing career near the caves in the Czech Republic, his curiousity abounded and eyes viewing the rock climbing areas.
We love you Pete. We find love in our hearts for each other and your spirit is always with us. We hold you close.
We will think of you ~ amidst our tears and our smiles and our laughter....so my dear brother See Ya....
Love,
Mary
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Aug 10, 2009 - 11:10pm PT
|
hey there dear family of pete... say, i remember how precious the rainbow came to mind one year, and how it was like a smile from above...
may the good keep watching over you all,and may his love comfort you, alwasy in new ways, as you enjoy many more memories that his friends continue to bring to mind...
god bless to all...
|
|
Cornelia Brefka
climber
Greenwich, CT
|
|
|
Aug 11, 2009 - 07:23pm PT
|
There are so many days when I go outside and there's something about the sky- the clouds and the sun- and I think "Hey Pete, I miss you" and I feel like he's there and that feels so good, although writing this still makes me cry...
Hugs to you Molly and Avery, and also to Martha and Mary and the rest of Pete's family.
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Oct 27, 2009 - 08:34am PT
|
Hi:
Just wanted to let you know that Pete's Dad, Karel Absolon, died Friday,
October 2, 2009.
Love, Mary
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Oct 27, 2009 - 09:10am PT
|
My condolences to your families, Mary and Molly.
|
|
nita
Social climber
chica from chico, I don't claim to be a daisy
|
|
|
Oct 28, 2009 - 01:10am PT
|
Sincere condolences to the Absolon family and friends..........
|
|
Lynn Iler
climber
Providence, RI
|
|
|
Dec 17, 2009 - 11:25pm PT
|
I check in here every so often and a always at a loss for words. I am so happy that Molly and Avery continue to move forward and make wonderful new memories filled with love and joy. I still think often of the entire Absolon family and the losses they have suffered. My condolences again -- Karel is with his boys now. I bet they are having a great time. Pete is still with us. I think of him -- and your whole family -- whenever I see a rainbow and I smile.
|
|
neebee
Social climber
calif/texas
|
|
|
Dec 18, 2009 - 05:40am PT
|
hey there say, mary and molly... very sad to hear of the dad dying, in oct... i had not seen this until now...
may the good lord help your through this hard holiday season and into the new year... may new things unfold that will help you over the rough-trail and bring you into some fruitful treasure of comforts...
god bless... may the youth carry on even more-so, in ways that the dad would be most pround of...
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Dec 21, 2009 - 11:33pm PT
|
Karel Absolon
A bit about Pete's Dad.....that we put together for his memorial:
Dr. Karel B. Absolon, medical historian, surgeon, & collector aged 83, of Rockville, Maryland formerly of Brno, Czechoslovakia, died peacefully of respiratory failure on October 2, 2009 at his home surrounded by family.
Dr. Absolon graduated from Yale University Medical School and completed his surgical internship & residency earning a PhD in surgery at the University of Minnesota. At the U of MN, he was an early pioneer in the fields of liver transplantation and open heart surgery.
He practiced cardiac surgery in Amarillo, Texas. In 1972 he accepted a position as Chief of Surgery at the Washington Hospital Center. This was followed by 3 years working in the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute at NIH.
He wrote a three volume biography of Theodor Billroth considered to be the father of modern gastro-intestinal surgery entitled "The Surgeon's Surgeon Theodor Billroth 1829-1894".
Over his lifetime, he amassed an extensive medical history library. Dr. Absolon’s vision was that his library be in a place where it could be used by all those interested in the history of health care, and, in 2002, he chose the History Collections of East Carolina University’s William E. Laupus Health Sciences Library as the permanent home for this distinguished private library. The Karel B. Absolon History of Medicine Library includes over 2300 pieces and is on display in a state of the art reading room accessible to the public.
A “Karel B. Absolon History of Medicine Lecture” was established by the Department of Surgery at East Carolina University’s Brody School of Medicine and is held annually in honor of Dr. Absolon.
Karel Absolon was from a distinguished family of Czech archeologists, physicians & scientists. His father explored the Macocha Caves north of Brno, Czech Republic.
To pursue a lifetime of freedom, in 1948 he escaped from Czechoslovakia and came to the USA. He was reunited with his home Czech country after the fall of communism and in the last years of his life relished visiting & talking with others about the Czech Republic.
He taught his family to follow their passions and to seek the truth. He was an avid reader and his home was his library. After retirement from surgery, he wrote and published many books & amassed a collection of writings on Gregor Mendel, the geneticist from his home town of Brno and Tomas Masaryk, the first president of Czechoslovakia.
He was a Fellow of The American College of Surgeons, a member of the International College of Surgeons, active in the History of Medicine Society and in the Czechoslovakian Society of Arts and Sciences
He is survived by his wife Mary of 55 years, their children Mary (Bill Herber) of Edina, MN, John of Rockville, MD; daughter-in-law Molly of Lander, WY, and Martha (Kevin Delehanty) of Long Valley, NJ; and grandchildren Christopher, Molly, Lucas, Avery, Samantha, Alexandria, and Colin. He was preceded in death by two sons Fritz of Rockville, MD and Peter of Lander, WY; sister Ali Block of Greenwich, CT and parents Karel and Valerie Absolon of Brno, Czech.
And may rainbows touch you this holiday season in wonderful and new ways!
Love, Mary
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Jan 20, 2010 - 10:50pm PT
|
At the Nanda Devi Temple in India, there is a memorial bell with Pete's name engraved.
A friend wrote to us this Christmas that their niece was on a NOLs trip to India. Her NOLS leader was a friend of Pete's. She rang the bell.
:-)
So listen for a bell and if you are at Nanda Devi Temple, ring the Pete Absolon Memorial bell...alot and loud!
Love and with Fondness to our friends forever,
Mary
|
|
Keeper of Australia Mt
Trad climber
Whitehorse, Yukon , Canada
|
|
|
Jan 21, 2010 - 02:20am PT
|
Such a terrible and senseless accident - I pass along the deepest condolences . I never knew the man but clearly he was one who enriched all those around him so it is a loss shared by the entire climbing community wherever we are located. I am comforted though in knowing that he has not gone far and the best of him is respresented in his great kids who will carry all of that with them and continue sharing it with those they meet. Strength and peace to his loved ones.
|
|
Molly Absolon
climber
Lander, Wyoming
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2010 - 04:18pm PT
|
I am not sure how many people visit this site anymore. I do when I need to feel Pete's presence. Somehow other people's memories validate mine.
But I'm writing more because it occurred to me that there may be people out there interested in helping us establish a scholarship in Pete's name at the National Outdoor Leadership School. Our goal with the scholarship is to provide funds to instructors seeking to further their training—something Pete worked hard to promote during his tenure at the school. For example, we hope an instructor could apply for a grant to get certified by the AMGA or to take an advanced level avalanche course or whitewater rescue training—something that will give him or her more skills and experience. We are close to our goal and hope that next year we'll be able to give out the first grants. I hope the scholarship will help keep Pete's legacy alive at NOLS.
In establishing this scholarship, we had two goals: one was $70,000 and the other was to have 100 donors. We are close on both of those objectives (needing about 20 more donors and $10,000) so are looking for donations of all sizes to reach our goal. Please consider helping out even if all you can afford is $10. Every gift means something.
Here are the technicalities of donating to the fund:
The easiest method is on-line contribution:
· Go to https://www.nols.edu/eDonate/
· In the comments box write “Restricted to Pete Absolon Memorial Endowment”
Thank you very much.
Peace
Molly Absolon
|
|
SteveW
Trad climber
The state of confusion
|
|
|
Jan 31, 2010 - 05:44pm PT
|
Bump
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2010 - 06:14am PT
|
50 years ago today, Pete was born at the University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
It was a complicated birth, yet he survived and lived a wonderful life.
His greatest love was his wife Molly & daughter, Aves.
He loved his work at NOLS and passed his wisdom and wit to those around.
Pete, we remember you on the anniversary of your 50th birthday.
Our lives are good. We love and get love in return, just as you would like!
We love you.
Mary
:-)
|
|
divad
Trad climber
wmass
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2010 - 10:53am PT
|
All the best to Pete's family and friends on his birthday.
Dave
|
|
Dick Danger
Trad climber
Lakewood, Colorado
|
|
|
Mar 30, 2010 - 12:06pm PT
|
We miss you Pete. Happy birthday.
TW
|
|
Mary Absolon
climber
Edina, Minnesota
|
|
|
Aug 11, 2010 - 06:56am PT
|
Our Pete is in our hearts. We remember this day ~ August 11, 2007 as it is branded into our hearts forever.
We are well.
On July 4, 2010, we celebrated the wonderful wedding of Molly Absolon and Allen O'Bannon. Our families~The Armbrechts, O'Bannons and Absolons came
together as our intertwined lives melded together as none of us could have
ever imagined several years ago. We are so blessed that our Molly and Avery have Allen in their lives as are we. Two wonderful marriages!!! :-)
And the beat goes on....our Molly Herber through a NOLS alumni course
successfully summited Mt. Rainier this summer. Need I say more...
My Mom turns 80 this year and we have relished in the legacy of my Dad
at East Carolina School of Medicine's Historical Medical Library Karel Absolon collection-it is quite a wonderful contribution to our society.
I have read that unless we have pain in our lives we have not lived. We have all lived a ton and through those we love and care about, we are able to move on. We thank you for everything and for all days ahead.
Stay in touch as it warms our hearts!
Love and Friendship Always,
Mary Absolon
Pete's sister
|
|
|
SuperTopo on the Web
|
Let us know!