April 13, 1938 – January 31, 2025

Igor Gesse was born in the Soviet Union on April 13th, 1938 and died in his home in Michigan on January 31, 2025 at the age of 86. He was surrounded by his wife, children, and friends. He had been diagnosed with two glioblastoma brain tumors, a terminal disease, in August 2024. He was born during World War II, spending some of his time in an orphanage. After high school he went to the college of LITMO, earning a diploma as a mechanical engineer in 1962. A few years later he added his PhD in mechanical engineering. He was introduced to cross country skiing during his college years and it became his lifelong passion. He was employed by General Motors for 22 years. His soulmate, Vera, shared life with Igor for sixty-one years. He is survived by their three children, whom he loved dearly. While his permanent residence was in Michigan, he spent every winter in the mountains of Colorado. After his retirement in 2002, Igor devoted his life to teaching skiing: both Alpine and Nordic. His last position was at Keystone Nordic Center. The way he demonstrated skiing to his students was inspirational and his passion for perfect technique was admirable. His enthusiasm and precision were infectious, and he was determined to make every one of his students a world class racer, yet he had the patience of a saint. He always knew what he wanted to do and his interest were varied. He loved photography, outdoor sports, canoeing, kayaking, biking, and—above all—skiing. Vera recalls that he was quite an accomplished handyman, saying he had “not golden hands, but silver.” One year ago, not knowing what was coming, he was competing in Finland in the Masters World Cup and he earned silver and bronze medals in his age group. He did everything with passion; he even chose to donate his body for medical research in service to others. When Igor was asked at the end of the winter season what he was planning to do during summer his standard answer was, “I will just wait for the next winter.” Igor was well-known in the Summit County cross country skiing community and everyone who knew him will miss him terribly, especially his colleagues, friends, and students at the Keystone Nordic Center.