Arthur A. Twomey (Deceased)
Class Valedictorian
<<< Art and his life partner Margie Jamieson
To the Class of 1962:
Your attention is invited to http://www.cyberlink.bc.ca/~ptarmigan/newsletter.html
As noted in the memorial part of our class website, Margie Jamieson
was Arthur Twomey's life partner. They had a tour company in Canada
until Art was killed in a helicopter crash. Margie continues to operate
the tour company, and the above link is to her current newsletter.
The newsletter describes Mount Twomey. It also describes some skiing
and other adventures that you may want to consider for an upcoming vacation.
-Charlie
Wishing you and yours a very merry christmas and the very best in 2003!
Margie
At the foot of Mt. Twomey is the Dewar Hot Springs. Not just the soak to ease weary travelers but firstly one of the most important mineral licks in the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. The game trails come into it like the spokes of a wheel deep with use.
Mountain Goats graze on his shoulders... and the view from the top... The wild reaches of the Purcell Wilderness Conservancy. Wild places in all directions. To the west, granite pinnacles of the Leaning Towers where after the McCauleys earliest climbing forays in the 40's Art and friends in the early 70's spent endless summer days on many of the first ascents. To the north a depth of space where all who have lived here can continue to do so. To the east habitat for mountain caribou where we still cross our fingers for their continued existance. Here Art was first to bring their plight into consideration and establish boundaries for the PWC which included their habitat.
So if in 100 years a passerby sits at the foot of Mt.
Twomey and looks up to see the goats grazing in the early morning and wonders.
Who was Twomey? We who knew him can say. He was a part of the reason for
the goats.
Backcountry skiing at Boulder Hut
The winter of the snows! After the winter of 2001 it was like we
got 2 years snowfall in one. Shane pulled off most of the guiding as Matt
did in his ACL days before his 4 week stint in at Boulder. Tracey stayed
in to cook as Matt hobbled from x-ray to doctor to sort out treatment (a
full reconstruction in August). He is back in shape for the 2003 season.
Jamie was head cook and kept us full of great food and laughter for the
winter. She is a master of meals and getting in max vertical too.
Sandy is plugging away in the office and will again be there to greet you at BJ's and get everyone onto the helicopter with all your gear and enough food and beer to last a week. A tough year for Sandy losing her dad and always the hardest her granddaughter who did not pull through on a necessary heart operation. We will miss little Kara's huge and winning smiles.
Most everyone is back again for the 2003 season. Shane and Jamie need the work to make payments on their new house in Golden. Tracey is back at school, so she only gets to work during reading week. Matt is in for most of the season and will help me coach James Hamilton, our newest guide via New Zealand. When we learn his language (or he ours) we'll do just fine. Don't worry if you need some explanations for his sense of humor... It is a Kiwi thing. Also Kate Sulis from the huge metropolis of Wells BC will join us in the culinary arts area. She is a massage therapist first, so be warned Kate, you may have to work late. Aspiring guides Ray and Linda Bock will join the crew this winter for the first time. Summertime canoe guides, the winter season should bring balance to their lives.
Davin is working madly at a law degree and loving it. JC has just finished an apprenticeship as an electrician. Jamie Whiteside is back at school down east. Ken Bibby and Kim have a new house in Revelstoke and have christened it as home for Shea. Kir continues as lead guide a Powder Cowboy/Cowgirl a cat ski operation.
The Kleppers are officially retired!! But Fiji is still running. Al Bakker from Australia shared a boat house on Tevewa with us for many years, and we have enjoyed the best of friendly co-operation in running similar trips in Fiji. Al has a fleet of fiberglass kayaks, and runs week long trips that I would be happy to book people onto. Al has the same attitude about trips in Fiji and has a great crew of guides: Ozzie, Kiwi and Fijian. With a wealth of experience and great cooks to boot, they keep you laughing and busy in a paradise that's hard to beat.
Fiji gets busier and has surely changed since the days we first started
kayaking there but the white sand beaches, the blue south Pacific and the
friendliest people on the planet have not. Check the Fiji and Trip calendar
pages for info, dates and prices.
Welcome Eve, wee, freckled faced and high speed only outdone by her keenness and sweet personality. Fay is up running with the big kids now and holding her own in the Open class. Bryn has been a star placing in the top 10 of every trial to date in her class. And up and coming Josie is looking like another winner. She is off to training this winter so will miss the snow.
My sheep flock at home keeps thriving. And yes another dog. Cloe my guardian dog takes her position seriously. She stays with the flock and keeps predators at bay. Her first night at home I ran to the window in the middle of the night to get her to stop barking... oh yeah... that one is supposed to bark.
Anyway this years lamb crop is all sold, but if anyone is interested
in some organic lamb, get your name of the list early. They are definitely
low fat as like most things around here they get their exercise.
After 9/11 happened international travel seemed to take a back seat
until things settled and the world decided how they would react. So, no
Ghana trip this year unfortunately. It is still on the books as one of
the best trips I have ever done and we will continue to run game viewing
trips there. Let us hear of your interest and we'll put together a group.
Sweet scent of white orchids
Sun-warmed wet forest
Warm mule bodies
Juniper crushed underfoot
-all fragrant memories
The thrushes' morning song
Evening howl of wolves
Constant chuckling creeks
Jingling bells of horses
-the world's harmonies
Hot tea in the cold dawn
Cool water in heat of day
Lunch hunger in the meadow
Sweet small red berries
-tastes of summer
Cool air on over-heated skin
Cold rain of reality
Wet-boots squishing mud
Hot springs balm
-feeling alive
Distant mountain ranges
Meadows ablaze with flowers
Sun-dappled forest floor
One-flowered delight
-patterns for living
-all senses awake
Friends to enjoy
Thankfulness
Just to be
[We have already obtained a copy of the movie River Spirits and will
show it at the 40th reunion.]
Sandy's letter
Memorial plaque for those who died in the helicopter accident
Memorial pamphlet extracts, honoring Art and his dog, Sadie: Page 1 Page 2 Page 3
News clipping 1
News clipping 2
News clipping 3
News clipping 4
News clipping 5
Frosty beard....
Trip schedule for adventure tours
Map
Subject: Re: Looking for
Arthur A. Twomey
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 14:54:35
-0500
From: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
To: ptarmigan <ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca>
Sandy,
Thanks for your help.
Charlie
Subject: Re: Looking for Arthur
A. Twomey
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000 08:16:33
-0700
From: "ptarmigan" <ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca>
To: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
Hi Charlie
Thank you for your mailing address.
I will try to have a package prepared for mailing Monday.
Sandy
Subject: Re: Looking for Arthur
A. Twomey
Date: Fri, 17 Mar 2000
08:28:59 -0500
From: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
To: ptarmigan <ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca>
CC: amphi62@Technidigm.org
Sandy,
We would be pleased to have copies of the newspaper articles. My address is:
Charles R. Jones
13624 Hartsbourne Drive
Germantown, MD 20874-2828
USA
I would also be interested in
receiving any promotional materials for the company and a
picture of Art and Margie, if
that is not too much trouble. This would go a long way toward
satisfying our need to know
more about what Art was doing all these years. To my
knowledge, he was not able to
attend very many (if any) of our reunions over the years.
Thank you,
Charlie
Sandy
Subject: Re: Looking for
Arthur A. Twomey
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 12:58:23
-0500
From: "Charles R.
Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
Organization: Technidigm.org
To: ptarmigan <ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca>
CC: amphi62@Technidigm.org
Sandy,
It is very nice of you to provide this additional information. Frank sent us a note that indicated Art dedicated the film to his father, so we have our answer. Apparently the news of Art's death was published in a Tucson, Arizona newspaper, and some of our classmates already knew about it. I had not heard anything here in Maryland.
We are pleased that we now know about Margie, too, as well as Ptarmigan Tours. We have placed a link to your website next to Art's name in our class list at <http://technidigm.org/amphi62.htm>. If there is other information that either you or Margie have that we might make available to his high school classmates, please let us know. Art was our valedictorian and a very talented and dear friend.
Although three years have passed, please extend our sympathy to Margie and to his other friends and family.
Sincerely,
Charlie Jones
Subject: Re: Looking for Arthur A. Twomey
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 09:21:25 -0700
From: "Pancho's Villa" <pvilla@cyberlink.bc.ca>
To: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
Charlie,
Yes, sounds right....Margie would know more....Art's dad worked for the Smithstonian Institute in NY....Art had fond memories of going on summer expeditions with him and learned a lot about photography, birds and other wildlife....he loved his father....his dad made a number of 16mm films on horseback in the Rockies......
[Frank]
Subject: Re: Looking for Arthur A. Twomey
Date: Thu, 16 Mar 2000 08:46:41 -0500
From: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
To: "Pancho's Villa" <pvilla@cyberlink.bc.ca>
CC: Amphi62@Technidigm.org
Frank,
Thanks for the additional information. This makes everything very clear. I never knew much about Art's family, but I think he lived with an aunt when we knew him in Tucson. I think he was originally from Philadelphia.
I can imagine how proud Art was to be able to dedicate this film to his father.
Thanks again for your assistance.
Sincerely,
Charlie Jones
Pancho's Villa wrote:
Charlie,
Art made the film and dedicated it to his father, Arthur C. Twomey.....
cheers,
Frank
Paynter
Dear Charles
Art A. Twomey was involved with the film you were inquiring
about.
His Dad was Art C. Twomey and I think he may have
had involvement
with the film also. Perhaps Art Jr. decided
to give his Dad the credit.
However, Frank Paynter will be in a very good position
to confirm this
end of things with you.
For your information, Arthur Allen Twomey, was involved
in a helicopter
accident on January 11, 1997, that also took the lives
of 4 other people
on their way in to an avalanche training course which
Art was to be one
of the instructors. Margie, the person who first
responded to your earlier
e-mail was his life time partner for 20 years.
They shared in building
Ptarmigan Tours up to the successful business that
it is today.
Hope this information will help you.
Sandy Jensen, Office Manager
Subject: Re: Looking for Arthur A. Twomey
Date: Wed, 15 Mar 2000 16:06:16 -0500
From: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
To: John Hoskyns-Abrahall <John@bullfrogfilms.com>,
'Pancho's Villa' <pvilla@cyberlink.bc.ca>
CC: Ptarmigan Tours <ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca>
I received my copy of River Spirits from Bull Frog
Films today and watched it. At the
end, the credits indicate that Arthur C. Twomey
was involved with that film rather than
Arthur A. Twomey. Our year book indicates
that the man we are looking for is
Arthur Allen Twomey.
I suppose it is possible that the film credit has the
wrong middle initial. Please verify
this if you can and let me know. We naturally
hope that the film credit is accurate,
meaning that our Arthur Twomey is still alive somewhere
and that we may eventually
find him still alive. Thanks for your help.
Sincerely,
Charles R. Jones
301 972 2017
Frank,
Thank you for your kind thoughts and information. I submitted an order to Bull Frog Films last night for the River Spirits film. We would be pleased to reimburse you for either or both films, in addition to the copy that we ordered, and we could return them if you would like, after the reunion in 2002. I will also attempt to extract a short sample Art's voice and image and make these available directly on the web site, his memorial page, unless there is some objection to this.
Yes, Art had a nice voice. He won the high school talent contest one year, guitar in hand, sitting rather professionally on a tall stool on an otherwise empty stage. We have missed him at our previous reunions, but he was far away and busy with his work and his dreams.
The best place to send things to us right now is probably to me in Maryland. My address is:
Charles R. Jones
13624 Hartsbourne Drive
Germantown, MD 20874-2828
Thank you again!
Charlie Jones
Subject: Re: [Fwd: Art Twomey]
Date: Sat, 11 Mar 2000 22:47:45 -0700
From: "Pancho's Villa" <pvilla@cyberlink.bc.ca>
To: "Charles R. Jones" <cjones@Technidigm.org>
Charles,
I will send you a copy of River Spirits as well as
a copy of Still Life for
Woodpecker....Art was the director of River Spirits,
I was the producer.....
Art was a narrator and appeared in Still Life for Woodpecker
so you can hear
his wonderful voice on the sound track and see what
he looked like in 1989
when that film was made............he certainly was
a very special person
and i miss him a lot.....
Here are two links describing the above films.....
http://www.kootnet.com/riverspirits/
http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/174.html
cheers,
Frank Paynter
>Frank Paynter and John Hoskyns-Abrahall,
>
>Thanks for the help and information. The news
of Art's death brings
>great sorrow to his many friends from his youth.
We would appreciate
>knowing anything else regarding Art that you may
know, and we will see
>if we can purchase a film that he took part in making,
something that we
>can show at our 40th reunion, two years from now.
>
>I have made an entry regarding this on our class
list, which we are just
>starting. Eventually we will have about 500
names on the list. His
>links on the page are at <http://technidigm.org/amphi62.htm#Arthur>.
I
>have included information (a link) regarding Margie's
travel agency.
>
>Sincerely,
>Charlie Jones
>Germantown, Maryland
>301 972 2017
>=====================
>
I did an Internet search to look for Art Twomey and found some reference to him as a director of some nature films. In pursuing that lead, I received information from Ptarmigan Tours that, unfortunately, Art died in a helicopter crash a few years ago. He was doing what he loved to do.
I can remember how excited he used to get over simple things like rocks, and I remember his great talent singing and acting. When he came from Philadelphia to join us in 8th grade, he and I became good friends. As you know, he was our valedictorian.
I will see about getting a copy of RIVER SPIRITS for the reunion. This film is described at <http://www.bullfrogfilms.com/catalog/228.html>. With any luck, Art will be pictured.
Regards,
Charlie Jones
301 972 2017
Dear Charles
Yes that was Art who producted the film you saw. Unfortunately Art
was killed in a helicopter accident
flying into his backcountry lodge here
in BC almost 3 years ago now.
If I can help you in any other way, please
let me know
Yours sincerely
Margie Jamieson
Margie Jamieson
Ptarmigan Tours
Phone: 250-422-3270
Box 11
Email: ptarmigan@cyberlink.bc.ca
Kimberley, BC, Canada
V1A 2Y5
Our Home Page address is: http://www.cyberlink.bc.ca/~ptarmigan/
Dear Charlie Jones,
I'm not sure if the director of RIVER SPIRITS is the same Art
Twomey, but I am sending a copy
of this message to Frank Paynter, who was
the producer of the film.
Maybe he can tell you for sure if it's the same
person.
Good luck.
Yours,
John Hoskyns-Abrahall
