In Loving Memory of Billy Poole

Lost a friend today..... a humble man and snow artist.

William George Poole
Billy Poole 1979 ~ 2008 William George Poole, extreme skier and kindhearted soul, died pursuing his passion Jan. 22, 2008. Born on March 30, 1979 to Phyllis Erck and James Poole, "Billy" Poole was raised by his mother in Missoula, Montana and later in Hardwick, Massachusetts. It was the mountains of Montana that originally inspired his love for skiing. Billy was a star athlete growing up, starting with Pee Wee Hockey in Cambridge, Mass. and soccer, baseball, wrestling and skiing throughout his school years. Billy graduated from Quabbin Regional High School in Massachusetts in 1997, winning State Championship in wrestling that year, and went on to study civil engineering at the University of New Hampshire. After he graduated from UNH in 2001 skiing quickly became more than a hobby. He competed in his first Big Mountain competition at Snomass in 2002 finishing an impressive 5th overall, he continued competing on the circuit for the next two years and eventually worked with the industry's leading filmers and photographers, traveling nationally and internationally to capture breathtaking images of Billy skiing in the beautiful places that loved so passionately. He was filmed skiing in Sweden, Japan and South America. He was known as one of the most kind hearted, hardest working and most driven skiers in the industry. His ski movies and images can be seen throughout publications and online. His death came at a time in his ski career when his years of hard work were coming to fruition. With several film appearances to his credit, a new hat company with his friend, Julian Carr, a profile in the latest issue of Powder Magazine, and a sponsorship as Black Diamond's marquee alpine skier, Poole was just coming into the prime of his career. Billy's ambition, talent as an athlete, and good name in the ski industry in no way overshadowed his magnetic personality. A matchless source of positive energy, Billy leaves behind many, many friends in Montana, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Colorado, Utah, South America, and Asia who will miss his raucous brand of enthusiasm. Billy Poole had long dreamt of starring in a Warren Miller ski film and finally got his first crack at realizing that dream this winter. Billy's last big adventure took place in the backcountry of Utah's Big Cottonwood Canyon; it was his first week out filming with the Warren Miller Entertainment crew. Billy died that bluebird afternoon at University Hospital in Salt Lake from injuries sustained while jumping a cliff. He was 28-years-old. Billy is survived by his sister, Pennie Thompson, mother, Phyllis Erck and her fiance, Curtis Rathburn, grandparents, Lou and Ruby Erck and nephews, Caleb and Brevlin Thompson, of Missoula, Montana, aunts, Lisa Gray and Rose Lockwood and uncle, Charles Erck, cousins, Moon, Auguste and Theo Lockwood, Scarlet, Rohan, Sam, Rosa, Ruby Lelani Erck and Jasper and Zachary Stover and Ashley O'Connor, step-father, David Wright, step-brother, Luke Wright, step-sisters, Sarah Meyers, Becky McDonald and Ashley O'Connor. A memorial service will be held on Tuesday, January 29 at 11 a.m. at the Garden City Funeral Home in Missoula, Montana followed by a reception at Ruby's Inn. A foundation has been setup in Billy's name to help kids to learn to ski. Donations to this foundation can be made at www.billypoole.com. Online condolences: www.larkinmortuary.com Published in the Salt Lake Tribune on 1/27/2008. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------