Hannes Tarnay

Hannes Tarnay of Falmouth, MA, formerly of Wardsboro, VT, died peacefully on July 21. He was 90.

Hannes was born in Salzburg, Austria in 1935. At the age of 14, he began a five-year apprenticeship to become a printer. He worked in Switzerland for a year before moving to New York when he was 21. He moved to Boston and worked at the Boston Globe in the composing room for 35 years.

Hannes was an unbelievable human being and outdoors was where he was most at home. He was extremely active his whole life and was happiest in the mountains or on the high seas with his beloved wife of 55 years, Christine Roche Tarnay (Cris).

For more than 80 years, Hannes was a beautiful, graceful skier. Beginning at age 3, until he was 86, he spent countless hours carving the mountains of Austria and the hills of Vermont. Hannes shared his love of skiing with thousands of people as an instructor at Stratton Mountain and Mount Snow. He and Cris also ran a very busy ski house in Wardsboro for 50 years.

In Falmouth, Hannes was most at ease on the sea with his cherished sailboats “Seven Seas” and “Andiamo,” which were moored at the Woods Hole Little Harbor for more than 25 years. He particularly enjoyed the challenge of learning how to sail his trimaran “Andiamo.”

Hannes is survived by Cris, who will forever miss his ingenuity, his interest in the world, and his energy for life.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, August 21, from 3 to 5 pm at 42 Queen Street, Falmouth.

Donations in his memory may be made to the Falmouth YMCA.