Gerard Fay

My first recollection of Ken was in the winter of 1989, the season after I moved to Connecticut. A group of us met at the Peoples Forest one evening after work for some ice climbing, he must have recognized I had some competency to climb ice as a couple of weeks later he invited me on a trip up to Smugglers Notch in VT for a weekend of ice climbing with himself, Jim Church and Mark Meany. I teamed up with ken that weekend, on the way up to the first climb of the weekend, talking, Ken remarked that he was thinking of replacing his ropes. We roped up for the climb and I was offered the first lead which I accepted. I took off up the climb and after only about five feet of climbing nailed the rope with the front point of my crampon, embarrassed, I struggled to disengage my crampon point from the rope and backed off. After retying into the rope above the damaged part I completed the climb to the first belay, Ken followed with no trouble until about ten feet off the belay where he nailed the same rope with his ice axe, apparently that was a first for both of us. On the way we laughed about it, Ken had his justification to replace his ropes since one was now about 20 ft shorter than the other. That weekend was the beginning of long friendship and over the next 10 years we had many rock, ice and mountaineering trips together and as a group.

One of Kens strong points was his ability to organize and he organized and ran some great mountaineering trips with meticulous planning and multiple objectives and backup plans. Many of the present CCM group had there first experience of the bigger mountains on one of Kens trips and I for one have great memories of those trips. They were intense, no sooner had one objective been achieved it was down, back to the cars and onto the next objective the same day. Although group size was limited ones ability to climb did not discount them and Ken welcomed and nurtured those with less experience.

Being in Ken’s company while climbing was always a trip, the sick jokes and when the climbing got tough the explicits came fast and furious, for those that didn’t know him they didn’t quite know what to do, for those that did, it was part of the game. I’ve missed Ken’s company, sharing a rope and his great trips these last couple of years and will continue to miss his company in the future years.

Steve Nelson

It's been great to read all the emails about Ken. I shared a private note with Ruth, and now feel obliged to share a few thoughts with everyone.

For a few years Ken kept trying to get me to try ice climbing. It became a running joke between us at the gym and at pizza afterwards. I kept telling him that I had tried ice climbing once and it was a miserable experience. I am a skier in the winter and rock climb in summer. Ken kept inviting me to go ice climbing with him anyway, and one year I decided to join him just before Christmas. We went up to Canaan and he led the first pitch of the popular Bicycle route. I scrambled and clawed my way up the first steep section to where Ken was watching me on belay. He listened to my wimpering and whining, and then smiled and offered for me to lead the next pitch. I thought he was crazy, since it was only my second pitch on ice. He assured me that it was easy and well within my ability. If Ken said it was so, then it was so. So, off I went. Ken and I swapped leads all day. He led the hard stuff, and I'd play on the easy stuff. An ice climber was born on that day due to Ken's patience and coaxing.

A few weeks later, Ken and I partnered up on the Adirondacks trip. I was amazed and honored that Ken would climb with me, a newbie on ice, for a weekend in the coveted DAKS. I figured he could have teamed up with another strong climber and kicked butt on some hairy ice, but Ken seemed to be just as happy to show me the ropes. On a rainy, unseasonably warm day, we climbed Multiplication Gully. Ken threw me at the first pitch with supreme confidence, and he climbed the very thin second pitch in great style. I had a smile on my face all day. The next day was extremely cold (-10 deg F), and we climbed at Cascade Pass. Ken led a climb (Sister's Right, Grade 4+) that I can only describe as amazingly hard. The ice was almost impenetrable, and Ken managed to get screws in somehow. He always cursed at a hard spot, and boy was there a lot of cursing going on during that pitch. Trying to follow him on it brought many of the same word choices to mind as I tried desperately to get up the frozen monster. After getting through the crux section, my hands hurt so bad that I had to stop and let the blood rush back in. The pain was excruciating, and I was a bit embarassed by the delay. Ken said it was normal and happens to all ice climbers. I finished off the pitch with a new found respect for Ken's climbing ability as well as his graciousness.

I climbed ice a few more times with Ken that season and was always amazed at how he could climb something that seemed almost impossible to me. We had great fun, and I climb ice today because Ken coaxed me into it and took the time to teach me how to swing an axe. Last year, Alex and I climbed Positive Thinking in the Adirondacks. Afterwards, we talked about Ken and what a great influence he was on our climbing. Ken had first taken Alex on the same climb several years earlier. I think he would have been pleased with our efforts that day. Thanks to Ken, we managed it safely and in good style.

I have missed climbing with Ken over the past few years. Now, I will miss it infinitely more. I will be thankful, though, for the opportunity he gave me to share some precious time with him.

Larry Krutko

There are times in your life when you are fortunate to cross paths with someone whose personality just seems to mesh well with your own and you find yourselves becoming close friends. I can't recall the first time that I met Ken, but I soon noticed that I found myself seeking him out when I was looking for someone to go climbing or hiking with. We shared many times together, a couple of climbing trips out West, hiking the 100 mile wilderness, and countless days of ice and rock climbing here in New England and the Adirondacks. I always enjoyed Ken's company and his great sense of humor. He put together some of the best climbing trips that I have ever had the privilege to take part in. He was a great friend that I will really miss.

Bill Waters

Over the years we had the pleasure of Kens' company on many climbs, hikes and ski trips. This past Aug we spent a week canoeing with Ken and Ruth, Brian and Liz in the LaVerendre area of Canada. As with everything he did, Ken had a system refined through years of trial and error and we all benefited from his experience. Each morning the boats were loaded and we paddled off for the day. Each evening we sat in Kens' screen house and ate, played cards or just talked. Kens' system was such that he always seemed to have exactly what he needed close at hand, the oven he baked the brownies in, the map to look over the next days' route possibilities, or one of his famous tasteless jokes. I prefer to have nothing I need close by and make multiple trips from the screen house to the tent ( in the pouring rain) and back. Ken had gone through several periods of chemotherapy by this time, one ending just a day or two before we left. It did'nt slow him down or diminish his enjoyment of each day in any way that he ever let on.

We are all very fortunate to to have had Ken in our lives. The time was brief it's true, but Ken has left something of himself with us all. We will always smile when we think of him, even if we sometimes cry as well.

See ya'll Sunday

$ and Carol

Olga Zelennikova

I new Ken through my husband Alex. Ken was Alex's climbing partner. Once I asked Ken to help me to set up a surprise birthday for Alex with the climbing crowd. It was not easy for him. As I realized later, he was not the easiest guy around and planning a birthday party with a cheerful bird like me just wasn't his best idea of wasting time. So, I didn't involve him in choosing a cake and decorations, that just felt too much for that guy. But he set up the place perfectly, invited everyone without Alex knowing, and even choose a card for everyone to sign. Great card, by the way, he really put his best efforts into choosing it. Ken later apologized for his behavior. His apologies together with help, coming from that rough guy, really touched my heart. It's not how much you did that counts after all, but how much heart you put in that little that you did really makes a big impression on people. And that rough guy really stretched himself then.

We had a great birthday party for my husband. Ken has a special place in my heart. This blog is my appreciation to Ken for special memories I carry.

Al Carilli

Buttermilk Falls

A cold, very damp day at Buttermilk Falls, but we would not want it any other way. Eight of us were there to enjoy some of the best ice in the Catskills. By the time we reached the top of the third pitch, our enthusiasm was not dampened, but everyone’s clothing certainly was. My hands were at the point where I was literally frozen with pain. Anyone who has climbed ice with me knows what I mean.

Ken turned to me, unzipped his gators and produced a dry, warm pair of gloves. He said take these, I really don’t need them. His own gloves were as wet and damp as mine, but he insisted that his hands were fine, warm.

I learned two things that day: to always carry a spare pair of gloves on an ice climb; and, more important, what a sharing, caring guy Ken was. Thanks again, Ken.

Natasha Piskunova

I have been knowing Ken not for many years. I started climbing with the group 5 years ago and was fortuned to find a lot of great friends. Ken was one of them. He was very special. He had a big heart and bright personality. He was the most altruistic person I have ever known. My husband and my daughter are still talking about that time when Ken helped me to take them for climbing in Rumney. It was a little longer than year ago when Ken was not in the best physical shape,he was already sick. He gave his time and energy to my family and was happy to see them smiling and excited. Ken cooked two breakfasts for all 25+ CCMers, he was up at 5am and served everyone. I can tell many stories about Ken , how he was kind and generous to his friends. Ken was always thinking about people first and himself last.

He was too young, it was a wrong time for him to go. It is a terrible loss not only for his family but for all his friends. Ken was better and bigger than all of us.

Dear Ken, thank you so much for everything what I learned from you, for every moment which I was lucky to share with you. You will be always with me in my heart and my memory. I cannot stop crying.

LOVE, Natasha

Miriam Greenfield

It was the middle of July. 90 plus degrees with high humidity. We were at Whitestone going over rescue skills. Ken organized the day for people going on one of his mountaineer trips. He invited everyone to join even for people not going. Still new to the group and a lot to learn, I went with Angela. Ken taught us how to ascend a rope and a bunch of other skills.

On Friday, the day after he died, I was climbing at Red Rocks. There was a section of the climb I wasn't sure if I could do. I thought I might have to ascend the rope as Ken taught me. I made sure I had extra slings and cord. I didn't need to ascend the rope but I am glad I had the skills just in case. Ken was with me that day.

He was a caring, thoughtful person and a great teacher.

Alex Zakonov

Ken and Alex in Yosemite in 2003

Ken was my first climbing partner. Everything that I know about mountains I’ve learned from him. I watched Ken approaching extremely hard ice climbs that looked to me impossible to climb and saying “does not look bad…” and taking a lead on the climb. I also watched Ken making a decision to turn back on an objective that we planned and dreamed about for a year because it was not safe for the team. I’ve learned from Ken to respect mountains, I’ve learned from Ken to respect and value your climbing partners. Before our first big wall aid climb in Yosemite, we were in a visitor center checking weather forecast. A ranger learned about our objective and asked “What is the most important for you? Is it getting to the top?” and Ken’s answer was “No, getting to the top is not that important. The most important is to stay friends after the climb”. Those words truly represent Ken for me. He was great person and he was always taking care about people around him. I will miss Ken.

In Memory of Ken Klopfer

Died November 19, 2009.

Ken died at Brigham hospital in Boston from complications of his battle with leukemia. He was surrounded by our family and passed peacefully and painfree holding our hands tightly.
Ken did not want a wake or funeral, just a memorial service. We are waiting to get his ashes and are thinking of having the service the Sat. after Thanksgiving in Chicopeeat the curch Beth & I attend with my family. Ken wants to be remembered. Please jot down some memories or share some pictures. You can send them to his hotmail box and we will print them out. We will put them all into a scrapbook to share with family, friends and any future grandchildren so they will be able to know about him even though he is no longer with us.
Thank you for being part of his life. He truly valued your friendship.
Ruth