Memorial Service for Robert Porter Rockwell, Jr “Old Long Skis”

The community is invited to a memorial service on June 11, 2016 for Robert Porter Rockwell, Jr. who was also well known in South Lake Tahoe as “Old Long Skis.” He died on November 3, 2015, and his family and loved ones were waiting for a summer memorial service, where everyone could gather outdoors and celebrate his life.

Even though Bob was born in San Jose, Ca in 1953, he was long known as the ultimate local, having moved to town as a young child in the 1960s. One of his first jobs was taking tourists over to Emerald Bay in an aluminum boat, and acted as their tour guide along the way, sharing his knowledge of Lake Tahoe and its history.

Because of Bob’s lifelong passion for history, his memorial service will be in a very fitting location, at the Lake Tahoe History Museum complex in front of the 147-year-old Osgood Toll House. The memorial will start at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 11.

As a history buff, Bob would attend the Lake Tahoe Historical Society’s events at Camp Richardson, and they could always count on a friendly and encouraging “Keep up the good work!” phone message at the museum the next day. He participated in their Spring 2014 “Do You Remember?” public meeting to great amusement of the audience with his fun way of sharing stories of the past.

His wishes were to be remembered through Lake Tahoe’s history, so the “Bob ‘Old Long Skis’ Rockwell Memorial Fund” has been created. All donations made to the fund will go to restore the toll house.

During the memorial, the plans for the historic cabin and toll house, created by Keith Klein, will be unveiled. There will be free cabin and museum tours and maps of the historic walking tour of Al Tahoe will be available.

Refreshments will be served and the doors to the toll house will be open for a peek inside.

For those unable to make it, but would like to make a donation in Bob’s name to the Osgood Toll House project, please send a check to Lake Tahoe Historical Society, P O Box 18501, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96151