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RJ, affectionately called "Trees" by family and friends, was born in San Francisco, CA to John and Betsy Twelvetrees. The youngest of three, Trees grew up in Palo Alto with his sister Barby and brother John. He was a graduate of "Paly" High where he played football, basketball, track and baseball. It was during these years that his passion for alpine skiing blossomed. His mom would drive her clan to such ski areas as Dodge Ridge, Squaw and Heavenly Valley where she'd sit in the lodge while they explored the snow-covered slopes. His illustrious seven-year college career included the University of Oregon, Foothill College and San Jose State receiving his BS in Recreational Physiology. He played collegiate football, water polo and tossed the javelin.
Trees moved to Aspen in 1969, first working for Gretel Uhl on Aspen Mountain. Two years later he was hired by Curt Chase into the Snowmass Ski School and thus began his 41-year career as a "ski teacher" with the Aspen Ski Co. His keen intellect, colorful sense of humor, California attitudes and passion for teaching quickly became his trademarks.
In 1981, Trees met Jenny Lang and after a short, nine-year courtship, they married in June 1990. Together they raised Katie and Michael, a family immersed in skiing and ski racing. They spent their 22-year marriage living winters in Aspen and summer months in Maui where Trees became "nearly" as passionate about windsurfing as he was about skiing! The deep blue water off Kanaha Beach was his favorite sailing spot. On their small Kula, Lilinoe Farm, he raised coffee and harvested his famous "cannonball" avocados (which he never once ate!). At the beach, he became known as the "Avocado" man. Working for Maui Sails and Neil Pryde since the summer of 1990, he delighted in learning the technical aspects of sailing equipment and schmoozing the customers. Through it all, he was the consummate gym rat.
Trees is survived by his wife Jenny; daughter Katie Monahan; son Michael Monahan and two grandsons, Fynn and Yossi Monahan; his sister Barby Clarke of Honolulu and brother John Twelvetrees of Wasilla, Alaska. He will be immeasurably missed by his family and a lifetime of friends and students. He lived life on his own terms with humor, honor, love, humility and passion. He was an original man, loyal friend, inquisitive and kind. His life embodied "aloha."
Contributions in Trees' name may be made to the Aspen Valley Ski & Snowboard Club Scholarship Fund in memory of RJ Twelvetrees, 300 AVSC Drive, Aspen, CO 81611.
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Richard Bernstein
I called Trees one month before he died to tell him about the reunion. He was happy to hear about it and planned on coming. He was at his home in Up Country Maui and told me he was feeling great and that all was well with him. Still windsurfing at Hookipa, going to the gym, doing his small farm half of the year and teaching skiing in Colorado the other half. He told me how much he was enjoying his life. No mention of any ill health. After I learned of his passing I called his wife Jenny and she explained that three weeks after I had spoken to him he suddenly developed a pain in his stomach. They went to the Doc and were told that he had pancreatic cancer. Within a day or two from getting the news they flew from Maui to Colorado to be with family. He died seven days later.
I spoke to Trees every couple of years as we had a lot of history and were good friends. We first met at the Stanford coaching camp in the 4th or 5th grade. While at Jordan and Paly we were track athletes and spent a lot of time working out and frequently running the Stanford Stadium bleachers. We also went to many Stanford sporting events over the years. After Paly, we attended Foothill, both on the three year plan. After Foothill we went to San Jose State and shared an apartment. We were on the San Jose State track team and our teammate was Tommie Smith, the fastest man in the world and the 1968 Olympic Champion who gave the black power salute on the victory stand after winning the 200 meters and breaking the world record. That was great fun for us.
After SJS, we both moved to Honolulu and shared a house in the old "Jungle" section of Waikiki (1966). I worked at Mikes Grog and Sirloin, he at another restaurant I think. After a short time we went our separate ways , I think he moved back to the Mainland and went back to school. He was a great guy and a good friend.
I think Bob would say that his life was amazing. For a gifted athlete like himself, wind surfing at Kahana Beach on Maui in the summer and teaching skiing in Colorado in the winter was a dream come true. His career choices involved the freedom of flying across space and time. May he surf eternal glassy waves and ski endless powdery mountains. Aloha Bob.
Rick Bernstein
Elisabeth Prentice
Rick, it was heartwarming to read your entry about Bob. Thanks for the information and update. He certainly lived his own life, as have you!
Stanley Karabats
So very sad to see that Bob passed.