major peaks in this
country, including all the high points of the contiguous western states (except
Rainer), and such mountains abroad as Mt. Blanc, Kilimanjaro and even mighty
Mt. Kosciusko as part of Doug's "finish" of the seven continental summits.
Vi also had a very serious and committed side. She was a quintessential
classic Sierra Club person -loving the exploration and enjoyment, while also
carrying essential responsibilities. She had been Chairperson and Secretary of
both the SPS and the DPS, had also served as Secretary of the Chapter Council,
and was the SPS Mountain Records Chair at the time of her death. With her
exceptional organization and discipline she was superb in all these roles. She
had also taken some responsibility for the future, for the Nature Conservancy
was her primary beneficiary.
In these and many other things Vi was very
important to us all, we'll continue to celebrate her memory, and will really
miss her perky stride and big smile, her friendship and companionship. We're
all the better for having known her through the years. -- Duane McRuer
IN MEMORIAM
by Doug Mantle
"So, you are the famous Vi Grasso?" With these words began twenty-three
rewarding years of friendship with this remarkable woman.
Vi died of a
heart attack Saturday, October 15, 1994, descending from Ken Point. She would
have wanted it that way, to die climbing, still in her prime. "Too bad it was
on a crud heap" she'd add.
The lady defies easy definition, there were
so many aspects of her.
She was the engaging Latina with the
perfectly-timed, zany outburst.
She was the sophisticate who with a
withering snicker could destroy a mediocre opera performance, or who would sit
enraptured through by any performance by Placido Domingo.
She was the
no-nonsense professional, the paralegal, drawing up complex pleadings or fixing
the foibles of inexperienced attorneys. |
She was the gritty
endeavorer who soloed a host of tough climbs, bivouacs and all, did the East
Face, Telescope from the bottom, and first Sierra Winter ascents.
She
climbed all the SPS and DPS peaks and served those groups in many capacities.
She ran numerous marathons and downhill skied over two continents. She topped
other summits all over the West, in Africa, Europe, Australia, and Asia. She
was a Gourmet Cook, Dog Show Presenter, Belly Dancer (yes) and Snow Angel.
For a lucky few of us, she was the nurturing friend. Once Vi took you under
her wing, she stuck by you (we once joked) like a faithful dog.
Vi was
a perfectionist, who saved the highest standards for herself, and showed little
tolerance for those who settle for less.
Vi used to joke that when she
got old, she would just walk around the lakes. But that wasn't her style.
She left us at the perfect time, content with her accomplishments, still
vigorous, and much loved.
TO ALL VI'S FRIENDS
by Edna
Erspamer I'm probably the last person who hiked with Vi. On October 8th
and 9th we knocked off four peaks in the area south of Idyllwild: Apache,
Spitler, Little Cahuilla, and Cahuilla, Vi's 252nd peak. Although she looked
down her nose at HPS peaks (having done the DPS and SPS lists), she had only
twenty-six more peaks to do in order to finish the list of 278. She was anxious
to do them all before the end of the year so she could join her friends Doug
Mantle (4th time), Duane McRuer (2nd time), and Bob Hicks (1st time) on the
ultimate super colossal Quadruple List Finishing Party.
On the way back
to the city on Sunday evening we compared our genetic make-up and talked about
things we could possibly die of (seem to do more and more of this type of
thinking after hitting the Big 60). Vi remarked that she had lived a fantastic
life up to then, done more than dozens of people rolled into one. "Anything
from now on will be GRAVY," she said. |