Rudolf Mattesich

The man known as the father of cross country skiing in the United States and a member of the Ski Hall of Fame, Rudolf Mattesich, died in 1995 after a brief illness. Mr. Mattesich, who was also a well-known artist, was born in 1900 into an Austrian military family. He grew up in Linz and graduated from the Imperial Military Academy in Wiener Neustadt in 1918 in the last graduating class under the Habsburg monarchy. He came to the United States in 1924 and started his American life as a Yellow Cab driver in Chicago. In 1926 he moved to New York City and founded the Austrian Tourist Office. He served as U.S. representative of the Austrian Tourist Board from 1926 until 1969, excluding 1938-1946. In the 1930's, he tirelessly promoted Austria as a tourist country for Americans. In 1966 he founded the Ski Touring Council. Made up of prominent members of the U.S. ski world, this volunteer organization promoted ski touring as an alternative sport to downhill, reviving cross-country skiing in the U.S. Mr. Mattesich edited and published the Ski Touring Guide. He continued this work after he retired. He was known as "Mr. Ski Touring" and was elected to the national Ski Hall of Fame in 1983. After moving to Vermont, he resumed his career as a water color painter, a career he had successfully pursued in New York City during World War II. Painting mostly Vermont scenes, he sold his paintings throughout New England, as well as in New York and on the West Coast.