Idaho - "Inch by inch life's a cinch. Yard by yard it's very hard. Mile by mile, it may take a while." - GSA

Born in Seattle to Virginia Shank and UW Olympic Hurdler, Steve Anderson, Graham passed away peacefully with equal parts grit and grace on June 2nd in Sun Valley, Idaho with loving wife, daughter, and outstanding caregivers by his side.

Graham was predeceased by eldest daughter, Carey, with whom he skied and sailed the world before her passing at age 27. He is survived by his beloved wife and partner of 42 years, Christie, and by his children of whom he was deeply, but as with all things quietly, proud: Kristi, Cory, Ginna, and Charlotte. Graham's heart delighted in his grandchildren, Siena, Zane, Olivia, Maren, Miles, and Greta. He is also survived by his former wife, Jana, younger brother Steve, nephew Greg, niece Stephanie; by many longtime friends and by mentees old and new who still from time to time sought his counsel in business, ski racing, and life in general. Graham was a tried, true, and sturdy friend.

Growing up on the shores and waters of Lake Washington, Puget Sound, and Desolation Sound, Graham raised his children to share his appreciation of tides, well-kept lines, and calm.

Graham had a deep trove of wisdom and interior feeling, though wasn't always able to bring them to the surface for everyone who was important to him. He could at times appear to be a vanishing mirage of land, but was also the steady Sound beneath our boats all along: intentional, composed, thoughtful, sweet, and quietly connected to something bigger.

Graham served as an officer on a U.S. Navy destroyer escort where he developed his sense of character: independence, collaboration, responsibility of self to a whole, integrity, and courage of conviction.

Graham's interest in skiing started as a junior competitor in PNSA. As a racer at Garfield High, he won "All City" and "All State" honors and ended up a Class "A" competitor. As a Husky, Graham raced on the UW Ski Team, winning Northern Division Championships, NCAA honors, and earning letters in both alpine and nordic disciplines.

Graham dedicated his life to skisport and became active at every level of the ski world. Locally, he served as PNSA's Director of Competition and as PNSA President. Nationally, he was Chairman of the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association and headed numerous committees including its National Alpine Championships Committee and Olympic Ski Games Committee. He served as Trustee of the U.S. Ski Team Foundation from 1960-93 and as Honorary Trustee thereafter.

At the international level, Graham contributed his experience to the International Ski Federation (FIS) where he was considered one of the world's top authorities on alpine skiing and served as delegate for nearly 40 years. In the words of fellow Ancient Skier, Ross Mclaughlin, "Graham helped pioneer the safety related development of the break-a-way race gates. There isn't much he has not done in the sport of ski competition." Graham served decades-long tenures on FIS's Alpine Executive Committee, Alpine Steering Committee, and World Cup Committee, as well as on juries at World Championships and Olympic Games where he handled such positions as alpine official, referee, and course setter.

For his service, Graham was awarded the Julius Blegen Award in 1979 and in 1984 was inducted into the United States Ski Hall of Fame. According to his longtime friend Gustav Raum, "Graham's contributions mark him among the top sport-builders in North America."

Graham was passionate about access to the sport that shaped his life. His efforts provided encouragement and financial assistance to talented and deserving young skiers who may not otherwise have been able to train and compete.

Scott McGrew, Executive Director of the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation recalls that "Graham's organizational leadership was calm, strong, intelligent, compassionate, and unwavering. To this day, I still draw on Graham's model, mannerisms, and kind heart whenever the going gets tough."

Graham served as Chairman and CEO of Seattle-based Pettit-Morry Company, an insurance brokerage firm. Graham referred to himself as "a simple insurance broker from Seattle" and attributed his success to his ability to surround himself with incredibly smart and hardworking people. Under his leadership, Pettit-Morry's ski department grew to insure most major ski resorts in the West. Graham pioneered ski area risk management techniques that are still employed as the gold standard today.

Graham continued to exercise his love of skiing and business as managing partner of Eldora Mountain Resort, a ski area near Boulder, CO, which he and partners pulled from the brink of closure and transformed into a thriving community-focused resort. Together with Vail founder, Pete Seibert, and others, Graham was a driving force behind the creation of Colorado Ski Country USA in 1963. He served as trustee from 1991-2016 and, according to Melanie Mills, was the Board's unofficial historian.

Graham's skiing and sailing adventures took him all over the world, but he still skied Sun Valley's Bald Mountain every winter from age 14 until he hung up his skis a few years back. Even then, he could still be found holding court at the lodge with a cup of cocoa in hand.

Graham worked the curriculum life gave him. He explored the straight and narrow, and kept growing in his ability to open and connect. He had a stoic's heart - seeing the wisdom in accepting things as they are while also working the ways of holding on, pioneering change, and letting go.

Through narrow passages and expansive crossings, Graham trusted that enough said was enough said and that we would make our own minds and meanings of things. Unselfconscious gratitude was the current Graham caught in the end, and with his last breath said, "Thank you. I'm done."

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation in Graham's memory.