John Norman Pontti - Early U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame president

John Norman Pontti

Early U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame president

U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame pioneer and president John Norman Pontti died on February 7, 2019 at the age of 82 in Marquette, Michigan.

Born in 1936 in Negaunee, Michigan, Pontii competed in Nordic combined as a high school student in Ishpeming. He continued to ski while attending Northern Michigan University, where he earned a master’s degree in special education. In the 1950s, he was actively involved in founding and developing the U.S. National Ski Hall of Fame in Ishpeming. A dedicated volunteer, he created new displays, generated publicity and served as the Hall’s president.

In 2000 he co-authored the book Midwest Skiing: A Glance Back. He was passionate about introducing people to the sport, and as an instructor and coach taught many young people how to ski. —J. Thomas West