People

: Mary Pargin Moore

: Mary Payne

: Mary Payton

: Mary Perkins

: Mary Pownall; Mary Anne Rheinberger (Pownall) was born 14 May 1932 in Duluth, St. Louis County, Minnesota to Max C. Rheinberger, Sr. and Isabelle Stauduhar Rheinberger. In 1950, Mary Rheinberger graduated from Stanbrook Hall High School in Duluth. Between 1951 and 1953, she studied Biology and Spanish at the University of Colorado in Boulder. In 1954, Rheinberger married and put her own studies on hold to support her husband’s dentistry education and practice. Although the couple parted ways in 1977, they had four children together: Mark, Darcy, Cinda, and Kevin. In 1978, Mary Rheinberger met Dick Pownall; they were married in 1979. Dick Pownall is a Vail legendary figure. In 1962, Dick was one of Vail’s original ski instructors, as well as a volunteer member of the ski patrol for many years. After his successful ascent of Mt. Everest in 1963, Pownall established a technical climbing school in the Gore Range and built a cabin in the community of Vail. In the 1980s, Mary and Dick Pownall permanently moved to Vail. Circa 1983, the Pownalls inaugurated the Vail Crossing Guard volunteers for various World Cup ski races in Vail. For the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships, Mauri Nottingham formally recommended to Bill “Sarge” Brown, then Director of Mountain Operations, that the Pownalls coordinate the on-mountain volunteers. The Pownalls were active in Vail community events for many years. Dick Pownall passed away on 6 December 2016. Mary Pownall continues to call Vail her home.