Richard Roskie

Richard N. Roskie died on February 29, at age 69, the way he probably would have chosen to go. Skiing on Baldy in massive amounts of fresh powder, he suffered a heart attack and died with his boots (and skis) on. To his soul mate of 32 years, Mouse Miles (as a duo they were known as the Mouskies), and his many, many devoted friends, Rick was an irresistible force. His mind was a catch basin for every field of study and stray fact that crossed his path. Rick could, and did, discuss law, electrical engineering, celebrity gossip, ballistics, politics, sports, culinary arts, religion and anything else worth talking about with humor, graciousness and a depth of knowledge which earned him the sobriquet “Rickopedia” among his friends.

Rick was an avid, almost every day skier, easily recognizable by the bill of his battered pink baseball cap worn under his ski hat. He was also an excellent golfer, one of the few who could almost always shoot in the 70s without seeing his handicap drop below 11. He was for years the president of Columbia Edgewater Golf Club in Portland before moving to Ketchum in 2002 and routinely collecting on Nassaus at Elkhorn. He was, as well, a celebrated cook, a producer of excellent meals and messy kitchens. Among his sources for cooking ingredients were the fruits of his frequent hunting expeditions. Having put the fear of God into the entire North American gamebird population, he was turning his sights toward the elusive cinghale. His kindness and willingness to pitch in were legendary. If you needed your house wired, a TV hung, a ship-board GPS programmed, firewood cut or a ride to the airport, Rick was always your man.

Rick grew up mostly in Montana, but graduated from Lake Oswego High School in Oregon. He subsequently earned a bachelors degree from Montana State University and a law degree from Willamette University. Rick was a long-time visitor to Sun Valley before moving here from Portland. He retired from a very successful legal practice with Black, Helterling, Beck & Rappleyen, where he had been managing partner and remained “of counsel” until his death.

He is survived by his sister Lynn Baker of the San Francisco Bay area, and his niece Jamie Roskie and Neil Anderson of Athens Ga. Rick was married to Cherri Roskie for several years in the late 70s and early 80s and they remained friends. He will be sorely missed by legions of friends.