| AKAWIE, ROHN DIE! Dick Akawie died August 15th at 66, after a long bout with leukemia. Dick had finished the DPS list, the HPS list six times, and had done some 150 or so Sierra Peaks. More importantly, he did the compiling and editing of the Angeles Chapter Schedule, ALONE, for over 23 years, an enormous task every 4 months for 70+ schedules. He led or co-led at least one trip in each of those 70+ schedules, usually 2 to 4. Most importantly, Dick had a wondrously warm, loving, and close relationship with Shirley, their 3 daughters & 5 grandchildren. The Angeles Chapter Schedule, the world's largest outings schedule, was done with wisdom, wit, and flexibility. Dick phoned me once some 10 years ago to suggest that perhaps I should allow 4 days, not 3, for C. King, Gardiner, Cotter. Countless things which slipped by outings chairs were corrected. An Akawie trip was a fun trip, no macho burn-out. People felt good about themselves - and came back again for more trips! Whenever possible, Dick talked his family into joining him on the trail; we encountered him more than once with baby carrier and a grandchild in the San Gabriels. A master navigator, Dick always penciled in each route, in detail on his topo map (Shirley, don't toss those maps!; Dick was a good follower as well as a good leader, and bore other leaders' errors with good-natured silence. He would have easily finished all three lists, but in '79, after Jordan & Genevra one day & Ericsson & Stanford the next, I heard Dick say "I can do these SPS peaks, but they're no longer fun." He went back to re-doing HPS peaks, which usually enabled him to be home with his family at night. Norm Rohn dropped dead of a heart attack, at 70, on August 20th while leading an SPS trip up Taboose Pass. R.J. Secor gave CPR to no avail. Norm was the consummate outdoorsman! Triple list finisher, superb mountaineer with all the skills, excellent rock climber into his late sixties, an excellent leader, co-leader, and a great guy to have on the tough trips. Norm was a skilled, responsible hunter, who usually brought back his limit of deer or elk from Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, & elsewhere. He was a skilled fisherman, who, after he finished all the lists, led week-long fishing/peak-bagging trips. Norm always bagged (and dressed, cut up, marinated, and helped cook & serve the "desert deer" at the unofficial DPS Argus Climb, Desert Deer Bar-be-cue & Poetry Contest. Norm was a meat hunter; dinner at the Rohn household was always a joyous experience, with children, grandchildren, friends, and usually venison, elk, bear sausage, or some combination. Many did not realize that Norm was a prize-winning flower grower, belonging to the Orchid & Begonia Societies. He was a jet pilot in the Reserves, and recently wrapped a trainer out at Mach 2. He had a very close, loving relationship with his wife Maggie, four children & 3 grandchildren. Son Lex climbed with us until he discovered girls, and the kids always loved to come home for a day or a month. In less than ten months, we've lost three remarkable men; giants of our peak-bagging sections, as well as being warm and wonderful human beings. It was my privilege to have hiked and climbed & led with, and known John Backus, Richard Akawie, and Norm Rohn! |
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