Gregory "Greg" Felsch

Gregory “Greg” Felsch lived his 74 years with an unwavering sense of adventure, an infectious optimism, and a deep love for the mountains, the water, music, and the people fortunate enough to share them with him. He passed away August 23, 2026, surrounded by the love of his family.

Born June 29, 1952, in Versailles, France, to Hans and Celina Felsch, Greg moved with his family to Palo Alto, California, at the age of four. As a young boy, he discovered his lifelong love for Lake Tahoe during summers spent at his family’s cabin, the Hawk House, in Rubicon Bay. There, he found the mountains, the water, and the freedom that would shape his life.

Tahoe didn't just become a favorite place, it became his full time residence for more than 50 years and a part of who Greg was.

Greg built a career around the things he loved most. He worked as a ski instructor at Homewood, Thredbo in Australia, Alpine Meadows, Squaw Valley, and Northstar, spending 30 years at Alpine Meadows and ultimately retiring as Director of Snow Sport Services. He also served as President of PSIAW and Certification Vice President, mentoring generations of ski instructors and leaving a lasting mark on the ski industry.

For Greg, skiing was never simply about the sport. It was about being outside, learning, pushing yourself a little farther, and sharing the joy of it with others.

His love for the water was just as strong. He owned Airborne Sailing out of Sunnyside Marina and later worked at Cope & McPheters Marine in Tahoe City, sharing his knowledge and enthusiasm for boats and water sports. Even after retirement, he continued working part time at Adrift Tahoe before he and his wife, Lynn, moved to Cabo San Lucas.

There was almost no activity on snow or water that Greg didn't love. He skied, snowboarded, surfed, wake surfed, waterskied, wake boarded, sailed, windsurfed, paddle boarded, wing foiled, biked, and fished. He also had a lifelong love of music. He began playing guitar and performing in a band as a young teenager and spent much of his life playing, listening to music, and attending concerts. Music was another passion he shared generously with those around him, inspiring his brothers to pursue music themselves and teaching them guitar and intricate harmonies during their teenage years at Tahoe. If there was a mountain to ski, a wave to catch, a song to play, or an adventure to be had, Greg wanted to be there.

For more than 10 years, Greg and Lynn called Cabo San Lucas home. There, he continued to live the life he loved, surfing and paddling nearly every day, with the ocean in front of him and the person he loved beside him.

But Greg’s greatest impact was not measured by the places he went or the things he accomplished. It was measured by the people he touched.

Greg was one of the most optimistic people you could ever meet; gentle, kind, compassionate, and extraordinarily generous. He had a natural patience that made him a gifted teacher and a rare ability to make people feel capable.

He didn't simply teach people; he inspired them to believe in themselves and see what was possible. Whether breaking down a ski technique, helping someone perfect a turn, patiently teaching someone to paddle, or sharing his love of music, Greg had a gift for making the intimidating feel achievable. He gave people the confidence to try things they never thought they could do and made life feel a little bigger, richer, and more fun.

His influence extended far beyond his family. Friends, coworkers, neighbors, students, customers, and countless others were changed by knowing him. He never sought recognition for the impact he had; inspiring people was simply part of who he was.

Greg also had an extraordinary ability to find the good in life. No matter what challenges came his way, he looked for something to be grateful for, focused on what mattered, and chose joy whenever he could. He understood that while we cannot control how much time we have, we can choose how we spend it—with the people we love, doing the things that bring us joy.

That may be his greatest legacy.

Greg is survived by his wife, Lynn Felsch; his daughter, Lindsey Ward; his granddaughter, Tiegan Ward; and his brothers, Peter Felsch and John Felsch. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hans and Celina Felsch.

Greg's life cannot be measured simply by the mountains he skied, the waves he surfed, the music he played, or the accomplishments of his career. It is measured by the friendships he made, the lives he touched, and the people who became a little more confident, adventurous, and joyful because he believed in them.

He spent his life showing people what was possible. In doing so, he left them with something far more lasting than a lesson: the belief that they could do more than they thought they could, and that life was meant to be lived fully.

Greg will be deeply missed, but the way he lived will continue in all of us who were lucky enough to know him.

Every mountain turn.

Every paddle stroke.

Every wave.

Every song.

Every adventure.

Every reason to smile.

And every time someone faces something they don't think they can do and decides to try anyway, a little bit of Greg will be there.

Family to Host a Celebration of Life in the Spring.