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Memorial :: Otto and Max Vaclavek

Friends, it is with immense sadness that we pass along the news that our good friends Otto and Max Vaclavek have passed away.

Max VaclavekMax Vaclavek
Max climbing at Indian Canyon Falls, with Otto belaying (not pictured) - January, 2007.
-Photographed by Rodger McKeon

While the outcome was tragic, thanks should be given to all the Spokane Mountaineers and Inland Northwest-area climbers and hikers who responded to the call to help search in the Leavenworth area for Otto and Max Vaclavek. Your help was tremendous, and was greatly appreciated.

Among the Spokane Mountaineers, Chad Skidmore drove over Thursday night to search Friday. Ken Billings, Paul and Diana Jameson, and Steve Reynolds with Spokane climber Sandra Ewert and her tracking dog Henry drove over Friday night and searched Saturday. Steve Aiken, Dale Johnson, Joe Pawlicki and Ted Rupp took a full day away from the Lead Climbing School to search Saturday.

SAR teams from throughout the state responded such that there were more than 60 searchers on Saturday, September 22, when Otto and Max were found. Otto worked at Mountain Gear for the past year and a great many Mountain Gear employees, and friends of Otto’s, were involved in the search. Very much appreciated were the efforts of the helicopter crews; in particular, David Valenti—Spokane pilot, climber and good friend of Otto’s and the Vaclavek family—flew and searched with the Spokane County helicopter for two days while his wife Julie provided support to the Vaclavek family on the ground. Lastly, Paul Fish and Karn Neilsen deserve special thanks for all their efforts mobilizing, organizing and supporting searchers, and their great and continuing help in support of the Vaclavek family.

Otto and Max leave behind wife/mother Susan and daughter/sister Olivia. Both are very appreciative and grateful for the support shown throughout the search, and the continuing support by our community. A fund has been established for them at the Spokane Teachers Credit Union:

Checks can be made out to:
Vaclavek Family Fund

They can be taken to any STCU branch or mailed to:
Vaclavek Family Fund
c/o STCU University District Branch
528 E. Spokane Falls Blvd.
Spokane, WA 99202-5050

We ask you each to consider giving to the fund. Thank you very much for your consideration.

Thank you all,
The Spokane Mountaineers