By Karen D. Lorentz
posted
Feb 14, 2013
Photo submitted
Judy Storch doing slush cup shoot for SKI
Judy Storch was one of the original "ski bums" who moved to
Killington for the skiing and worked for the ski area before
striking out on her own.
Born in Bronxville, NY, and raised in Mt. Vernon, she once
organized a ski trip for her high school classmates but overslept
and missed the trip.
After high school, she went to Europe on a 40-day bicycle tour
and stayed for five months. It was the first of several lengthy
trips, and her love of travel remains deeply embedded to this
day.
Storch worked as a legal secretary in New York for three years,
during which time she had finally learned to ski. "In those days if
your family didn't ski, you had to find people or trips in order to
ski," she explained, but she was determined to learn.
While skiing at Killington in February 1964, Storch learned
about a job opening, applied, and reported to work a week
later.
Starting as a secretary for $1.50 an hour, there was no
guarantee how long her job would last. She ended up working six
weeks and then staying to ski the rest of the season. "When the
snow left, I went back to New York to work," she said.
That October Storch returned to Killington and, as General
Manager Paul Bousquet's secretary, worked for a variety of
departments, including public relations, personnel, ski patrol, and
ski school.
"I was the one who went through the pond eight times in
39-degree weather for photographer Hanson Carroll," she noted,
adding, her ski "boots never recovered."
Storch recalled the fun of barrel staves and the time she was
disqualified in the Barrel Stave World Championships. One of her
staves came off (a strap broke) and hit a judge, but she argued
against the DSQ because there "were no rules" to the
competition.
While she didn't prevail that time, she did when handling
complaints or requests for refunds. That was a tough job as there
was a no-refund policy to follow at the time. Once, when told to
handle a pile of hundred unanswered complaints, Storch wrote a
letter noting the no-refund policy but then added, "Since it took
us a long time to respond, we're giving you a complimentary ticket
to thank you for your patience and hope you will come back."
The next day Comptroller Marty Wilson exclaimed, "You did
what?!"
Photo submitted
Storch holding a baby panda at the Chengdu Tiger Preserve where
a fee for the photo op went toward caring for the pandas. They had
to be protected against any germs so therefore the protective
gloves and garment on Judy.
"You told me to handle it," she replied.
"Another time a fellow came in saying he had torn the oil pan
out of his car in the parking lot. 'You got it caught on a big
rock?' I asked him and he said 'yes.'
"And I said, 'it was on the right side of the driveway going
into the lot?'
"And he excitedly said, 'YES.'
"Then I said, 'You're lucky you only tore the oil pan out of
your vehicle because the 4 foot by 8 foot sign next to it says no
unauthorized vehicles.'
"When they were wrong, I was brutal," Storch added with a
laugh.
But mostly she smiled and handled things as diplomatically as
she could, often explaining that if you went to the islands and
there happened to be no sun, one didn't ask for a refund for lack
of a tan.
Storch also recalled the days before credit cards. "People paid
cash for lift tickets, and there were some heavy duty receipts to
take to Proctor where the bank was. I might do a run in the middle
of the day with $40,000 or $50,000, but I refused to take a company
car because no one would suspect me of having money in my own car,"
she said.
She also manned the two-way radios and if people were thought to
be missing at the end of a day, she would call the Red Rob Inn to
make sure the ski patrol didn't leave and added "don't drink
because you might have to go out and rescue people."
Because she could speak German, Storch also handled visas for
ski school instructors. Unbeknown to them, she could also
understand their conversations!
When Killington began developing Killington East, her legal
background was an asset, so she decided to take a course and became
licensed as a broker in 1968.
She left ski area employment in 1970 and returned to "ski
bumming" for two years, waitressing, bartending, and working for
Jim Judge's property management company.
In 1972, she founded Killington Valley Real Estate with Pat
Denis. Sally Bridges became her partner after Denis left. Now
Storch is sole proprietor.
"People didn't think I'd last six months," she noted, but she's
become "the longest continuing original founder of a real estate
firm in Killington!" She has survived the ups and downs of the
economy and real estate market.
Recalling the early days, Storch observed, "It was like the
California Gold Rush, only you came for the Killington Ski Rush.
There was a pioneering spirit and you came for the growth.
"We were at the right place at the right time, and with a strong
work ethic you could succeed in building a business. Today it takes
financial means to do what I did," she added of her shoestring
start.
When not at the office, Storch now enjoys snowshoeing, golf,
travel, sailing, and photography.
"I still love the outdoors and living in Killington," she said,
noting that "a resort community is the only place I would want to
live because there is always something happening and great people
to meet. I'm single and love my social life here - and my freedom,"
she added.
"I have no plans to retire. I meet too may terrific people and
besides my social security checks wouldn't cover my American
Express bills," she quipped - a reference to her trips and cruises
to interesting places.
Photo submitted
Judy feeds Sophie, a 3-month old tiger in Costa Maya, Mexico
where they were raising funds for a tiger sanctuary.
With one of her passions being photography, her last two China
trips were made with a group of amateur photographers. "I took
hundreds of photos. It will take me years to edit them!"
On 2008 and 2011 trips, Storch visited the Chengdu Panda
Preserve in China. On a visit to Costa Maya, Mexico, she held a
three-month old tiger, a rare opportunity and way to raise money
for a tiger sanctuary in Mexico City. She also swam with dolphins
and sting rays.
"Killington is my comfort zone. That's why I stay. I travel for
new adventures and to meet more people. I certainly meet plenty of
new people right here in my own backyard," she added of a life that
is replete with warm mountain memories and friendships.
