ATHLETE PROFILE: Bunny Annable

A Real-Live Bunny

Home: Chestertown, NY Age: 90 Family: 3 children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren Occupation: Retired Primary Sport: Alpine Skiing

by Dick Buyer

For Bunny Annable, of Chestertown, age is just a number with little significance. Still skiing when many of her peers are in nursing homes, arthritic or just content to pursue less strenuous activities, she serves as an unofficial ambassador for this winter sport and continues to be a definite role model for her contemporaries.

During the winter this 90-year-old is a familiar figure at Gore Mountain in North Creek, skiing mornings daily, weather permitting. Then, it's off for some socializing and bridge. In the summer, her active routine persists when she plays golf at Cronin's course. "I only play the last nine, carrying a wand with four clubs and three balls and some tees," says Annable.

She was born in 1912, one of nine children – five boys and four girls. Her father, Dr. Val Vecot, was an ophthalmologist. She recalls from her childhood that they were "always doing something," and attributes her current zest of keeping active to "swimming, a cottage on Lake Erie, playing games, going to the park and playing ball." Annable asserts, "I had a close family and a wonderful childhood."

After elementary school, she attended Buffalo's St. Joseph Academy High School from which she graduated. It was here that Annable acquired the nickname "Bunny," which is derived from Burnette, her given name. It also explains why countless forms of bunnies are on display in her house astound any visitor.

In 1933, after earning a math degree from D'youville College, Buffalo, there was a one-year stint teaching at Grover Cleveland High School. For a while after, she was an antique dealer. Four years later, in 1937, she married William "Bud" Jehle, an aeronautical engineer, who introduced her to skiing. "I've been an avid skier ever since," says Annable.

Residing in the same house for 53 years, the couple produced three children (Bill, Bonnie and Robert). Bunny says Bud was "a classy skier, telemarking and never falling. When the children were old enough the family went on skiing vacations in the Laurentians, Vermont, Sun Valley and other western areas. "We all loved to ski," she adds.

Fast-forwarding a bit, the appetite to ski extends to Bonnie and Bill, two of her adult children, who sustain the family tradition. Smiling, Annable explains, "My son, Bill, from Buffalo, raced occasionally as a teenager winning a few trophies, and Bonnie, won eight races at Sugarbush, while she was working there. She now lives in Vermont and operates a clothing store." Recently, her son returned from a skier's dream vacation — a helicopter flight in British Columbia where passengers are deposited in inaccessible mountain areas to ski in deep powder.

In those early years, aside from skiing, Bud and Bunny were members of the Buffalo Canoe Club and owned a sailboat that they used on Lake Erie. In her 40s and 50s, she water-skied, windsurfed and played tennis. "Once a year," she says, "I return to the club for a reunion with family and friends."

The couple also played golf. Annable confesses, "I'm not a good golfer." Due to episodes of skin cancer, she now plays at 6 in the morning when the sun is less penetrating. Chuckling, she says, "I find more balls than I lose" because in the heat of previous day, some golfers are too lazy to search for lost balls.

In 1985, after more than half a century of marriage, she became a widow when Bud died after several heart attacks. Then, as a member of the 70-Plus Ski Club, and still living in her former hometown of Snyder, NY, Annable met her second husband, Henry Annable, during a ski trip to Switzerland. A few months later, they married and moved to his home in Chestertown. Their joint devotion to whisking down the slopes continued for seven and a half years until Henry died.

Her years with Henry also gave her a "wonderful second family," which includes 12 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren, in addition to 6 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren from her first marriage. "I had two wonderful husbands, absolutely, and that is one of the reasons why I'm still around today" she affirms.

Early Days of Skiing
In a quantum leap back to the mid-'30s when Annable began this winter love affair, she compares the primitive conditions and equipment with the today's high-tech skiing environment. "I skied with the Red Jacket Ski Club in the Boston Hills and the areas were only open weekends. There were only rope tows, no grooming and no snowmaking. Lift tickets varied from only 50 cents to $1," she says. Injuries were more common because skis were fastened to boots with toe straps and bear trap bindings surrounded the boots. Thus, when one fell, there was no release.

Subsequent advances, according to Annable, were tow grippers, T- and J-bars. In the '50s, Kissing Bridge and Glenwood Acres installed chairlifts at their areas and opened during the week expanding their hours of operation providing accessibility to more people. "Ski clubs formed in high schools, colleges and companies, which gave a boost to the industry," she notes.

Her son Bill compiled an impressive list of all the areas she has sampled with family and friends since her skiing began more than six decades ago in 1934. She has skied many different types of terrain and mountains in more than a half dozen regions that range from the Buffalo area to Europe. In 68 years of skiing, Annable has sustained only one skiing injury: a broken leg.

Annable says Sugarbush, VT, seems to be her favorite spot. "Because it has beautiful grooming." Regarding Gore, she skis the trails from the top of the triple chairlift. Recently, she cancelled several TV interviews there due to what she considers poor snow conditions. She avoids skiing on ice and the "mash potato" type of snow typical during the spring. Ability-wise, "I'm an intermediate skier and always have been," says the senior.

On her recent 90th birthday, a surprise gathering, courtesy of Gore Mountain convened in the base lodge. "I was completely unprepared," she states. Guests included her son Bill, daughter in-law Pat, her daughter Bonnie, six grandchildren, three great-children, and four of Henry's granddaughters. Also helping to celebrate were members of GOOFS (Gore Organization of Frequent Skiers), her skiing companions; most of them are a generation younger than her. In honor of the occasion, Gore presented her with a ski jacket, a birthday cake, and certificate recognizing her many years of skiing.

Annable believes her longevity is due to many reasons. "I'm an optimist and very lucky," she says. She says she is blessed with a lot of energy. In addition to a host of friends (GOOFS), her religious faith plays an important role. "The love and support of two families also spurs me on," she adds.

Dick Buyer (dbuyer1@juno.com), a retired history teacher, is an avid sailor, swims regularly, skis, plays table tennis and has completed three bike treks. As a writer, he enjoys meeting and profiling people who have had unusual experiences.