Celebration of Life for Robbi Mecus Held in Keene ValleyCelebration of Life for Robbi Mecus Held in Keene Valley On June 23, 2024, a celebration of life was held at Marcy Field in Keene Valley to honor the memory of Robbi Mecus, a forest ranger who tragically passed away while climbing Mt. Johnson in Alaska. Hundreds of people gathered, including friends, colleagues, and members of the transgender, queer, Keene Fire Department, state DEC ranger, climber, and hiker communities. Tributes to Mecus Samantha Stytzer, Mecus’s former spouse, praised her kindness and warmth, recalling how she made her feel safe from the moment they met. She spoke of Mecus’s love for travel and the importance of family, particularly their daughter Hazel. Ranger Christine Raudonis highlighted Mecus’s vulnerability and her ability to inspire others by showing her true self. Ranger Brian Dubay emphasized Mecus’s legacy as a rescuer who saved countless lives in the mountains and as a trailblazer for the LGBTQIA-plus community. Ranger Chris Dicentio shared humorous anecdotes about their time together as rookie rangers and expressed gratitude for Mecus’s mentorship and support in the technical rope program. Legacy of Inclusivity Mecus played a key role in establishing Keene’s Diversity Commission and organizing the city’s first Pride parade in 2020. Despite facing her own fears about coming out as transgender, she embraced her identity and became a symbol of inclusivity for both residents and visitors. Rangers’ Final Call and Flag Ceremony The celebration concluded with rangers performing a flag ceremony, during which Hazel received the American flag in honor of her mother’s service. A final call was made over the department radio service, thanking Mecus for her exemplary service and wishing her rest in peace. Post-Event Gathering Attendees gathered at Holt House to enjoy lemonade made from 128 lemons, commemorating Mecus’s contribution to her daughter’s lemonade stand.
From left to right, Samantha Stytzer, daughter Hazel and Robbi Mecus pose together in the woods. (Supplied photo — Samantha Stytzer)
KEENE VALLEY – A celebration of life in honor of Robbi Mecus was held last Saturday at Marcy Field in Keene Valley. Hundreds of friends and colleagues attended and some addressed the gathering to speak about Mecus. There were several diverse communities in attendance — transgender and queer, Keene Fire Department, state Department of Environmental Conservation rangers, climbers and hikers and others — with, of course, some overlap between the groups.
In 1999 Mecus became a forest ranger. Twenty-five years later, on April 25, 2024, she died in Alaska’s Denali National Park. According to the National Park Service, Mecus, 52, fell about 1,000 feet while ascending “the escalator” on Mt. Johnson, a steep and technical alpine climb. The 1,500-meter route requires navigating steep rocks, ice and snow.
Melissa Orzechowski was Mecus’s climbing partner on that occasion. The rope climbers both fell; Orechowski, who fell the same distance as Mecus, miraculously survived but suffered serious injuries.
Samantha Stytzer, formerly married to Mecus, hosted the celebration of life and, introduced by Keene Town Supervisor Joe Pete Wilson Jr., was the first speaker. Stytzer described Mecus as attentive with warm and sincere eyes, someone who made her feel safe “Even the first time I met her.”
She praised Mecus’ ability to be a teacher “without ego.” Both loved to travel; Traveling, Stytzer said, was a big part of their lives. They got married, they evolved.
“The next adventure destination would be parenthood,” she said.
Their daughter, Hazel, was born, and ‘Robbi felt it was important to be a family’ said Stytzer. “Hazel, you are deeply loved.”
Stytzer told the meeting: “People are always the best part of traveling. Robbi not only traveled, but she also connected with each of us and became a part of each of us. Looking at this crowd, it’s clear that Robbi is a well-traveled soul. Thank you for supporting us.”
Ranger Christine Raudonis praised Mecus’s “ability to remain vulnerable.” Mecus showed strength, Raudonis insisted, by showing her personal side, asking questions and expressing doubts about a rescue job.
Importantly, Mecus felt vulnerable because, as she said, she knew no trans climbers or queer rangers, and once feared that her beloved career would end if she came out as transgender. Instead, Mecus was inspiring and impressive as a mentor and leader, surprising herself when other rangers and people from different walks of life accepted and embraced her.
Mecus chaired the City of Keene’s Diversity Commission in 2020. The committee planned and managed the city’s first Pride parade, which was also sponsored by the Keene Valley Congregational Church and Keene Valley Library. This was a rare event in the time of the coronavirus pandemic, as it did not take place virtually, but in public, outdoors. The starting point for cars was Keene Central School in Keene Valley, and the parade ended at Marcy Field, where the celebration included food and music. About 200 people were present.
The Pride parade, while perhaps the best known and most visible project of Keene’s Diversity Advisory Committee, does not encompass the full volume of work. As Chairman Mecus once said: “Our mission is to promote initiatives and policies that promote inclusivity for both residents and visitors.
“We are working to remove barriers for all underrepresented people to amplify and market our welcoming spirit… We envision a future where all aspects of the City of Keene are welcoming to residents and newcomers alike.”
said ranger Brian Dubay “Robbi created a legacy for herself… she would get into an incident and save us… there were hundreds of people that Robbi saved in the mountains.”
The inclusivity that Mecus introduced to the LGBTQIA-plus community “opened a door…and opened our divisions,” he said.
Ranger Chris Dicentio provided some comic relief when he described himself and Mecus as “two green Ranger Academy graduates drinking chocolate shakes and trying to learn a job together.”
He apologized to the taxpayers of New York State and joked: “Most of our time was spent finding those chocolate shakes.”
“I’m not built to climb rocks, I’m built to go through them,” he said. “When I climbed, I climbed alone with her and never trusted anyone else. She looked like Yoda, gave great advice and kept it confidential. Thanks to Robbi, the technical rope program was revived. We are extremely grateful to her.”
The celebration ended with rangers performing a flag ceremony, at the end of which Hazel received the American flag in honor of her mother’s service.
To conclude, the rangers were ready for a final call. An announcement was made via a police radio:
“We thank you for your 25 years of exemplary service to the Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers and the citizens of New York State,” a voice came over the department radio service. “Your devotion to duty is reflected in the many lives you have saved. You are relieved. We have it from here. May you rest in peace.”
In a large white tent, the seated crowd watched through the open south side as the rangers drove off in the rain across Marcy Field and then headed north on State Route 73. Widespread sobbing could be heard above the constant patter of rain, bird calls and the sound of small children playing and talking, perhaps the only ones present unaffected.
Lemonade – reportedly 128 lemons were squeezed to produce it – was then served on the veranda of Holt House, commemorating Mecus’ contribution of homemade lemonade to Hazel and friends’ enterprising lemonade stand on Market Street.
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