Bob Maynard

Bob Maynard, who ran Aspen Skiing Co. during an era of great changes between 1988 and 1996, died at his home on Orcas Island, Washington, earlier this month at age 93. Maynard died of natural causes in his sleep on Nov. 11 2020, said Randall Gaylord, the San Juan County coroner and a family friend of the Maynards. Maynard was recruited by the Crown family and took the reins of the company on Jan. 1, 1988. He unabashedly pursued branding Aspen as an elite ski resort. When asked by a reporter at the time if Skico’s upscaling posed a risk of alienating the middle-class tourists who had been the bread-and-butter customer for so long, Maynard replied, “Mass follows class.” He butted heads with environmentalists and some local elected officials over the expansion of Snowmass ski area onto Burnt Mountain. He fought with politicians over Skico being charged for extra bus service for skiers. He alienated some lodge owners when Skico rolled out a rating system that was intended to force upgrades to an aging inventory. Early in his career he worked at Yosemite National Park managing Wawona Hotel, one of the first hotels in a national park. He ascended to the position of vice president of operations at Yosemite Park and Curry Co. He also spent three years at Jackson Lake Lodge. He later was appointed as an assistant director of the National Park Service in Washington D.C. He left the Park Service in 1973 to serve as president and CEO of Keystone Resort, a new resort then a division of the Ralston Purina Co. He oversaw its operations and expansion for 13 years. He was lured to Aspen while the Crowns co-owned Aspen Skiing Co. with Marvin Davis-20th Century Fox. The Crowns bought out Davis while Maynard was at the helm. Maynard and his wife, Nancy, relocated to Orcas Island, after his retirement. Nancy preceded him in death by several years, said Randall Gaylord, a family friend for roughly 25 years. The Maynards have two daughters, Katy and Suzy Maynard, and several grandchildren.