Robert W. Pidacks
Robert Walter Pidacks (January 28, 1929 – March 28, 1999) was an American cross country skier who competed in the 1950s. He finished 72nd in the 18 km event at the 1952 Winter Olympics in Oslo.
He died in Saint Petersburg, Florida.
Robert was born to Lithuanian immigrants Stanislava Urbonquicke and Stanislovas Puidokas in Rumford, Maine on January 28, 1927. His Charles and sister Sophia were also born in Rumford, Maine. Pidacks was graduated from the University of Maine at Orono in 1951. Robert also served in the Korean War. Pidacks married Ruth Edith Gile, daughter of Florence Amelia Giffin and Carroll Hershel Gile, on December 19, 1955. They had five children: Heidi Marie, Karen Marit, Tanya Lee, Robert Stanley and Holly Erica. Ruth had two daughters from a previous marriage; Daphne Amelia and Gretchen Elizabeth. Robert worked at the Bosie Cascade Paper Mill. Robert was a member of the Chisholm Ski Club. In 1990, Robert was inducted into the University of Maine All-Time Hall of Fame. After retiring, Robert and Ruth moved to St. Pete Beach, Florida. Robert died March 28, 1999. His memorial service was at the Pass-a-Grille Beach Community Church and his remains were cremated. In 2005, Robert was inducted into the Maine Ski Hall of Fame. His wife accepted the award.
"Robert Pidacks was the second Olympic skier from Maine; he skied in the 1952 Oslo Games, despite an eye injury from his ski pole that occurred while competing at Gould Academy in 1946. Pidacks was a three-letter man and ski team captain at the University of Maine." - “Maine Ski Legends in Hall of Fame” published November 27, 2005
"Bob Pidacks became the second Olympic skier from Maine when he joined his coach and fellow Chisolm Ski Club member on the 1952 Olympic Nordic Team. His journey to the highest levels of competition started when he learned to ski in Rumford at age seven. He began competing as a sophomore at the Stephens High in Rumford. His ski career was interrupted during his senior year when he drove a ski pole into his eye while competing in the state downhill competition at Gould Academy in 1946. He entered the University of Maine in 1947 to study forestry and in 1950 returned to training and competition. He became a three letter man at the University and in 1951 captained the ski team. Although his experience was limited to two years he piled up a series of outstanding results during the 1951 season. Heading into the Olympic Trials in March he had recorded a second-place finish in an open meet at Jackson, NH, 4th at the Dartmouth Winter Carnival, First in a State College meet including Bowdoin and Colby at Rumford, Second at the McGill ISU Winter Carnival, Second at an open meet in Salisbury and First at the Middlebury Winter Carnival. The winter's competition had him in top form for the Olympic Trials which were held on his home course in Rumford. His time of one hour, 32 minutes and 19 seconds beat National Combined Champion Ted Farwell by 21 seconds and Pidacks become the number one cross country skier on the 1952 Olympic Team. After being named to the Olympic Team he graduated from college and entered the U.S. Army. He was given leave to train for and compete in the games in Oslo, Norway where he ran the 18 kilometer course 14 minutes faster than his trial time for a 69th-place finish. Following the games Pidacks traveled through Europe competing in numerous races before returning to the Army and service in Korea. Returning to the states Bob was named to the 1954 FIS Team. With the demands of a career and family Pidacks declined an invitation to tryout for the 1956 Olympics, but his active participation in cross country skiing was not over. For the next ten years he continued to compete locally and spent countless hours working with the junior program in Rumford. He and his wife Ruth drove all over the Northeast transporting skiers to races. For his outstanding race career he was inducted into the University of Maine Sports Hall of Fame in 1990 and his record of achievement and contributions to the sport of skiing has earned Bob Pidacks a place in the Maine Ski Hall of Fame." - Maine Ski Hall of Fame
Obituary from the St. Petersburg Times: "PIDACKS, ROBERT W., 70, of St. Pete Beach, died Sunday (March 28, 1999) at home. He came here in 1992 from his native Rumford, Maine, where he retired in 1991 as a manager of wood procurement after 41 years with Boise Cascade Paper Division. He retired as a master sergeant with the Army, having served during the Korean War, and was a member of American Legion Post 24 and VFW Post 1641, both of Rumford. He was a member of the Society of American Foresters, the Pass-a-Grille Beach Association and the Eagles. He earned a bachelor's degree in forestry from the University of Maine and was inducted into its Sports Hall of Fame in 1990. He competed with the 1952 U.S. Olympic Cross Country Ski Team and coached the Chisolm Junior Cross Country Ski Team and the Bill Koch League of the Eastern Ski Association. Survivors include his wife of 45 years, Ruth G.; a son, Robert S., Rumford; six daughters, Daphne A. Perkins, South Portland, Maine, Gretchen E. Diedrich, Tulsa, Okla., Heidi M. White, West Peru, Maine, and Karen M. Higley, Tanya L. Richard and Holly E. Sukhi, all of Raymond, Maine; a brother, Charles, Ashland, Mass.; a sister, Sophia Pidacks, Rumford; 14 grandchildren; and a great- granddaughter. Blount, Curry & Roel Funeral Homes & Cemeteries, Beach Chapel, St. Pete Beach."