Steve Crisafulli - Skiwear executive

Stephen W. Crisafulli, whose colorful career spanned management of the Profile, Slalom, Bogner and Marmot brands, died October 18 at age 78.

Crisafulli grew up in New York’s Long Island suburbs and earned a BA at Dartmouth College in 1961 and an MBA from the Amos Tuck School of Business in 1962. He married Nancy Gay Hill and they had two children.

After two years on Wall Street, Crisafulli returned to the Hanover area. In 1964, with partner Fred Bedford, he purchased Profile Sporstwear in West Lebanon, New Hampshire. In 1971, with partners Al Diem and Frank Hamilton, he purchased Slalom Ski Wear, which had entered the ski business in 1920. The following year the trio launched Bogner of America in Newport, Vermont. Over the years, Slalom acquired SeaGear, Alpine Designs and Delfini Sportswear.

Crisafulli served on the boards of the Vermont Industrial Development Authority and Snowports Industries America, and was chair of SIA in 1989.

In 1990 Crisafulli was named chairman of Marmot, and took over as CEO the following year. He led an employee buyout in 1993, saving the company from the bankruptcy of its Hong Kong-based parent corporation. In 2004 Marmot was sold to K2 Sports and Crisafulli launched K2’s skiwear division. Shortly thereafter he retired, to ski, golf, sail and travel with his second wife, Debbie Bender.