Dear NENSA community,
This week cross country skiing lost a legend. John Ogden had warned us that this was coming, but there is no preparation for the loss of such a warm, spirited, and generous soul.
Costumed and exuberant, John set the stage for skiing in New England, his voice bellowing passion and enthusiasm at the start of countless BKL festivals. At all levels of sport, recreational to elite, local to international, John’s vibrant smile and positive attitude impacted all who surrounded him. The connections he forged and encouragement he shared reached and inspired the hearts of so many.
Through 16 years of service on the NENSA board, he was the player who could alternate between leading and supporting to achieve the best group outcomes, often in a way that would make one wonder, “how did he get us there?” Never a dull moment with John in the room! His commitment to xc skiing spans a continuum all its own, a “racer Dad” who got to experience the gamut from BKL to Olympics (with a lot of family “backyard/backwoods” in between), as well as volunteer, official, contributor and entrepreneur; and so much more beyond the ski trail.
For so many of us, it is impossible to imagine a NENSA without John Ogden. It is one that will always be better because of the many hats he wore and the lasting contributions he made, forever raising the bar for our ski community.
In true Ogden style, the family invites all to a potluck celebration, aka “big ass party”, aka “potluck of the century” at their home on July 21 at 4 PM.
Our deepest condolences are with John’s family and all who have been touched by him, near and far. He will be deeply missed.
Ellen Chandler, NENSA President
Heidi Lange, NENSA Executive Director
