We gather today to honor the life of George Nield Gillett Jr. a man of vision, resilience, and quiet generosity whose impact stretched from the boardrooms of American industry to the slopes of the Colorado Rockies and the arenas of professional sports.
Born in Racine, Wisconsin, on October 22, 1938, George grew up with a love of sports and an early sense that his path would lie not in athletic competition but in building and leading. After studies at Lake Forest Academy, Amherst College, and Dominican College of Racine, he began a career that would take him across industries: meatpacking, broadcasting, automotive dealerships, and sports franchises. He was never content to stand still. He saw opportunity where others saw risk, and he moved toward it with energy and optimism.
In 1985, George fulfilled a long-held dream by acquiring Vail and Beaver Creek. He arrived not as a distant owner but as a skier among skiers. That first season he logged 135 days on the mountain. He rode the chairlifts, greeted guests, and wore an employee jacket that simply read “George, Racine, Wisconsin.” Under his leadership Vail expanded dramatically opening the China Bowl and more, installing high-speed detachable quads, and hosting the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships, the first held in the United States in nearly four decades. He helped place Vail on the global map and, just as importantly, insisted that how people were treated guests and employees alike mattered most.
Even after financial headwinds forced a painful restructuring in the early 1990s, George’s resilience defined him. He founded Booth Creek Ski Holdings, continued to shape the ski industry, and later brought that same steady presence to the Montreal Canadiens as majority owner from 2001 to 2009. He immersed himself in the community, guided the franchise through meaningful chapters, and earned respect for his commitment. His interests also reached into soccer with Liverpool FC and into NASCAR, reflecting a lifelong passion for competition and excellence.
Yet those who knew him best speak less of the deals and more of the man. George loved a good steak, a day of hunting or fishing, and conversation that could begin as easily on a chairlift or golf course as in a boardroom. He was a devoted husband of 59 years to Rose, a proud father to Geordie, Alexander, and Foster, and a loving grandfather. He was preceded in death by his son Andrew. His Catholic faith grounded him, and he supported St. Patrick Catholic Church in Minturn with quiet consistency. Friends remember a man who recovered quickly from a hard fall on the mountain skis off, snow in his face only to stand, dust himself off, and push forward again. That image captures him well: resilient, optimistic, and always moving ahead.
George Gillett Jr. leaves behind more than a business legacy. He leaves a standard of leadership that valued people, a model of recovery after setback, and a deep affection for the mountains and the communities that gather around them. His influence continues in the resorts that still welcome skiers, in the teams that still play, and in the stories told by those who rode the lift with him or simply shared a moment of conversation.
May we remember him with gratitude for the vision he brought, the risks he took, the kindness he showed, and the example he set. May his family find comfort in the love that surrounded him and in the knowledge that his life enriched so many others.
Rest in peace, George. The mountain remembers you.