Obituary retrieved from the Los Alamos Monitor, Tuesday, January 2, 2001.

Joel B. Prichard, 20, died Friday, Dec. 29, from injuries sustained in a skiing accident on Pajarito Mountain. "Skiing," his mother said, "was his life's passion."

Joel was born Mar. 6, 1980 in Trenton, New Jersey, where he lived for 11 years. he also spent part of his childhood in Duncanville, Texas. In January 1997, he moved to Los Alamos with his parents and graduated from Los Alamos High School in 1998. At the time of his death, he was attending the Colorado School in Mines in Golden, Colorado on an academic scholarship. He was majoring in computer science.

His father, Ben, said Joel was academically and athletically talented. Ben recalled the time while living in California when he a Joel were biking on some mountain trails. Ben, who was in the lead, glanced back to check on his son, struck a rock, and crashed. Joel, a mere 9 years old at the time, biked three miles and, in the dark, lead rescuers to his unconscious dad, who was transported to a hospital by ambulance. His dad said this incident captures the essence of Joel's strong sense of confidence in himself that stayed with him from his youth to his adulthood.

His mother, Pam, referred to Joel as a sweet and patient son. On the morning of his death, she said, he had skied with her, giving her pointers and helping her perfect her technique.

He participated in numerous sports and played varsity football, basketball, and baseball while attending LAHS. Bob Scott, LAHS coach, was Joel's football and baseball coach. Scott said that Joel was an admirable young man who worked very hard. "He was consistent. You could always count on Joel to give 100%." At the Colorado School of Mines, he played on a championship 2000 rugby team and was a member of the ski race team for two years. He was also an accomplished pianist.

He began work at Los Alamos National Laboratory, Group NIS-9, as a high school co-op student. After he graduated from LAHS, he continued working summers at LANL, as an undergraduate student. Mike Neergaard, his supervisor, stated that Joel was multi-talented. "Joel," e said, "was turning our professional quality work even as a student."

Joel was a member of the youth group at Crossroads Bible Church and participated in the summer college Bible study in White Rock. He trusted Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, his parents said. Youth group leaders, Jesse Taylor and Kirk Christensen said, "Joel was a quiet thoughtful, humble, and kind young man, who, because of his quietness, would surprise you with his Biblical insights."