Bob Kendall

In life that was all too short, Bob Kendall achieved more than most do in a full life. His life was cut short by cancer at the age of 45, Christmas Eve, 1992, but he left behind a legacy fitting for his family.

Like his siblings Bob Kendall started skiing at and early age and by the time he entered Edward Little High School he was ready to take his place on a ski team recognized everywhere for its outstanding skiers. In 1963 he was a member of an EL team that captured the Maine championship and the New England championship. In 1964 his EL team competed in the New England championships and the Eastern ski Assn. Championships.

In 1965 his senior year he captained a Red Eddie team that won the state championship, the second state title for Robert C. Kendall his team. He was 3rd in GS and 2nd in the Skimeister competition. That same year he traveled to Bend Oregon where he placed second in the Nordic Combined at the Junior Nationals. His EL coach, Dick Osgood described Kendall as a quiet leader who scored in all events. Following his successful high school skiing career Kendall went on to the University of Colorado to become a four year member of that top ski team where he competed in NCAA championships. In addition to collegiate competition he qualified in 1968 for tryouts for the Olympic team, the only skier from the Eastern US to be ranked a senior A in all alpine and nordic events.

In 1969 Bob placed second in nordic combined at the US National Championships and was made a member of the US Nordic ski team in 1970-71. At the 1971 National Championships he won the nordic combined title and the following year was a member if the US Nordic Combined Team in the Olympic Games in Sapporo, Japan.

After retiring from the US Ski Team Kendall worked for two years as a nordic coach with the University of Colorado ski team and coached the ski jumpers to place 1-3-4 in the 1973 NCAA’s as the Buffaloes won their second straight championship.

Bob gave back to his sport by serving as business manager for the US National Ski Association in 1975 and as Alpine Program Director for the US Ski Association in 1976. After going into business he continued his service to the sport and his school, founding the Boulder Ski Ball, an important annual fund raiser.

Bob Kendall achieved Olympic heights as a competitor and helped others achieve as a coach and surely would have continued to contribute to the sport had he lived. While he was here he more than lived up his family’s traditions and those of Maine skiers who had gone before. Bob Kendall’s achievements in skiing have earned his place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame.