'His presence illuminated any room'

Friends of a Vancouver man who died in a "serious incident" on Blackcomb Mountain last week are raising funds for his family.

Ron Stuber, 62, was reportedly skiing in Sapphire Bowl, an expert-designated area in Blackcomb Glacier Provincial Park, when the incident occurred on Jan. 19.

"After emergency care and evaluation was performed by an on-duty physician at the site of the incident, the guest was pronounced deceased and transported off Blackcomb Mountain," WB said in a statement.  

In a GoFundMe launched Jan. 23, Stuber is described as a beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle and friend, survived by his wife Emma and their son Gus.

"If you knew Ron, you know that he was a kind, generous, and loving person," it reads. "His presence illuminated any room and he was known for his warmth, humor, dynamism, and capacity to embrace all individuals. He touched the lives of many people and played a pivotal role as a primary caregiver in the lives of many. His loss is felt deeply by all who knew him.

"We are raising funds to support Emma and Gus during this challenging time. The contributions will be allocated to aid his family as they navigate through this difficult period and will also be placed into a trust for Gus's future."

Whistler Blackcomb COO Belinda Trembath offered condolences in a statement released Jan. 23.

"Whistler Blackcomb, Whistler Blackcomb Ski Patrol and the entire Vail Resorts family extend our deepest sympathy and support to our guest’s family and friends,” she said.     

The RCMP did not respond to a request for more info before press time. A cause of death has yet to be determined.

Check back with Pique for more as this story develops.