Bill Mencimer of Aspen Glen died Thursday, March 13, 2003. He was 75.

He was born Jan. 18, 1928, in Rifle to Beulah Steely and Harvey Mencimer. They lived on a ranch on Middle Mamm Creek. He graduated from Rifle High School.

In the early 1950s he ran a hay baling business, worked as a cowboy, and worked at the Climax molybdenum mine near Leadville. He graduated from Parks Business College.

---

---

In 1956 Mr. Mencimer moved to Aspen to work on the Aspen Mountain Ski Patrol, where he eventually became patrol leader.

He married Sally Hume in 1962.

---

---

When Mr. Mencimer wasn’t patrolling, he was building. He built the Skier’s Chalet in 1963.

He started Mencimer Construction, and built or remodeled nearly 100 homes in Aspen, usually doing most of the work himself.

In 1966, Mencimer was asked to create the Snowmass Ski Patrol for the new ski area. He installed communication lines, hired 17 men, ordered supplies and uniforms and helped build the first patrol room at Sam’s Knob, all for $3 an hour.

Mr. Mencimer was a member of the Aspen Rotary Club, and helped build the footbridge across Maroon Creek.

He helped start the EMT program at Aspen Valley Hospital and served there as a volunteer.

He was a master gardener and often helped his wife at the Aspen Center for Physics. He loved skiing, biking, camping, traveling and saddlemaking.

Mr. Mencimer was a quiet, kind, honest and creative man.

The last home he built was his retirement home at Aspen Glen, completed in 1997.

Mr. Mencimer is survived by his wife, Sally Mencimer of Aspen Glen; by a son and daughter-in-law, Jay and Leah Mencimer; by a daughter, Molly Mencimer; and by grandchildren Zachary Mencimer, Max Mencimer and Myia Mencimer, all of Glenwood Springs.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Monday, March 17, at the Aspen Chapel, 77 Meadowood Drive, in Aspen.

Memorial contributions may be made to a fund in his name at Alpine Bank in Carbondale. Proceeds will be donated to Computers 4 Kids, Glenwood Springs Junior Hockey and for a memorial bench at the Snowmass Ski Area.