It was Mr. Daniel O’Connell Sr., a highly regarded community leader who
set up a ski tow for children outside Holyoke Mass. It caught fire and a ski
area was up and running in no time. It also was the time when Vermont's
Stratton Mt. opened it' s door and imported high-level ski professionals to
bolster the resort's flair. Adi was among them.
Years later, Mt. Tom made him an offer he could not refuse. Adi was not disturbed by the limited size of the mountain but impressed by the population dense location. Mt. Tom was to become a ski training center for Individuals, Colleges, Universities, Public and Private Schools, and Organizations of Western Mass. and Northern Connecticut.
Dr. Lynn Vendean from the University of Massachusetts offered a credit approved ski course and enrolled 600 students. Professor Ruth Elveth from the Mt. Holyoke College grew her program to 500 students. Dr. James Genasci from Springfield College came with 400 students, and coach Richi from Western New England College joined with 300 students. Smith College, AIC, Miss Porter Institute and others came on a yearly basis, for 5/6 week programs.
Adi quickly developed a supplemental ski education program for School Systems, SYSP, where teachers like Mrs. Bernstein from Chicopee Schools participated with 300 students. Dennis Moran from the Agawam schools enrolled 300 students, so did James Garrity from JFK in Enfield. Sister Gene from Holy cross joined with a well-organized program for 120 children, and the rural Town of Ware enrolled with Isabel Bradley. All Longmeadow Schools participated, as well as schools from Amherst, Belchertown, Hadley, Hampden, Holyoke, Ludlow, Monson, Springfield, Sunderland, and Wilbraham. Schools and recreation departments from the nearby state of Connecticut followed the invitation with ski programs for Enfield, Coventry, Granby, Sommers, Tolland, Vernon, West Hartford, Windsor, Windsor Locks.
SKIING, a leading national magazine, run a feature story of Adi’s programs, followed by many inquiries regarding initiation of a school plan in other states. The Massachusetts Association for Health and Physical Education (MAHPER) honored Adi with the MAHPER AWARD for bringing the educational values of skiing to the State. Adi also promoted skiing through educational TV series, local and national club appearances, and was featured in several ski movies, one of which was produced by the Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce. He was never shy in underlining some of his presentations with his musical talent.
At Mt.Tom Adi and wife Helga reached further with school vacation packages, and training courses for corporations, like Aetna Insurance, the Hartford Insurance Group, Hamilton Standard and many others. The Urban League of Springfield enjoyed a program, so did Church Groups, Montessori Schools, Boy/Girl Scouts, Parents without Partners. The total count reached 40 000 ski lessons per season, and Adi posted over a million lessons during his tenure.
Given the number of students, yet limited space available, the operation nonetheless run soundly by a well-organized time table and highly qualified instructors, a prerequisite since universities and colleges came with large numbers of top-level skiers to begin with. Lessons were scheduled midweek day and night, in addition to the daily walk in business. Extra teaching terrain, outside the ski area boundaries, facilitated group business from NY areas on weekends.
It lasted 30 years. Young James O'Connell Jr. was at the helm of Mt. Tom when he passed away unexpectedly. His wife subsequently closed the privately held ski operation for good.
