Wilmer Dean Trivett

Dean was the best at being kind, and friendly, to everyone. Though I’m sure he had a limit, I never saw it. He and Jaquie were the first people I met in Kirkwood, the Fall of 1993 I think. Knowing them helped me return for three more seasons, and because of them I met the greatest people, had so many adventures, and gained friends of a lifetime. That first winter we shoveled snow from their condo living room after a roof avalanche broke through a huge window. He was very excited about never having to do that again, but you’ll never meet someone more joyous about such a mess. He was thrilled by whatever adventure came his way, from a moonlight ski up to Caples Lake, to serving coffee at Reggae on the River, he always had a smile and a hug and something good to say to make you feel loved. He was the wild uncle you told stories about, and the brother you called in a jam. He was a great friend and the best work mate, and his capacity for love is an inspiration. I am so very grateful for having known and spend so much time with him.

Dino...My first memory of Dean the "parking guy" I met at Kirkwood ski resort when I went to work there the season of 94'-95' with his dog named Punky, the twinkle in his bright blue eyes and an ear to ear grin everyday, he used to chat me up when I rolled into work early in the morning. I never had any clue as to what he was saying or why he was talking to me. Little did I know I was about to meet the funniest, friendliest, silliest, fun loving people of my life when I took the job up there all those years ago. I remember working the coffee cart for Java Go Go with Jackie, his wife just a short while later, after having been acquainted with Dean and thinking that "THAT" duo made PERFECT SENSE. I had really never met anyone like either of them! What a dynamic warm pair of people. Not sure up until that moment I had ever met people that much older than me that talked to me like one of their peers and made me laugh and feel instantly comfortable with sharing all of myself with. They were two of the first people I met, ever in my life that made me feel like no matter what, I could always be myself around them, free of judgement or constraint. What a breath of fresh air. They were in love and footloose and fancy free. Both of them had enough love for everyone to fill up a room and I just thought their adventurous spirit was amazing. I remember the first time I went over to their house in Markleeville they were on the back deck in the hot tub sipping Mimosas welcoming us in, with the most hospitality. Jackie always had food prepared and snacks and knew how to enjoy entertaining. Dean and Jackie loved their family, their friends, Mexico and were there for so many of us in times of need. They were able to have a life that was open for spontaneity. I will forever be grateful for the friendship they shared. Dino decorated our Volkswagen Vanagon "Jenny" the night of our wedding and drove us to our honeymoon suite. Jackie made us soup for our cafe when we opened it. Dean in the past few years always checked in with us and brought us wood. They were always willing to give and to help and they enjoyed being a part of and included in the festivities. Such a zest for life that continues to inspire! We looked to them as role models for how to live life and love each other. Joe remembers a time when he said this to Dean, that we wanted to be like them...Dean said "I look at you and I see me...I look at Azzy and I see Jackie". Joe cherishes that moment, both as a personal sentiment to be proud of, and as an example of how an angel like Dean looked at the world and those around him. There was also sadness and they shared that too, and challenges physically and emotionally which they were honest and open and vulnerable about. To me that is a quality of compassion to be very admired. Being vulnerable is how we connect, we learn, we grow and we "feel" for and with one another. That we all can feel our humanness, through the good, the hard, the messy and the blessings. Both Dean and Jackie were communicators and educators. They really knew how to enjoy life, to laugh heartily and to love with every fiber of their being. It's hard for me to share one without the other because they were a merged body and soul. I will always be inspired by their devotion to each other, to their family, to the effort they put into all of their friendships and fur babies. Their connectedness to the natural world, the magic and the beauty of the outdoors and of travel and delight in the simple things. I hope they are together and still having fun.

I met Dino and Jackie at La Pastora over a decade ago. I took a few years off from Baja, and headed back last year to make a point to meet up with Dino. We stayed connected and would text or call each other to catch up. He always was so generous, kind and wise. He told me once; that we are all unique, because we all have our own ways of doing things. We just do them differently. Partnership is about acceptance and love. This really resonated with me, and I appreciate his wise words. Dino always had a big smile, a good laugh, a huge heart and the best hugs! He truly loved and appreciated Jackie! It was always so nice to be around them both. Dino was an incredible human and friend to us. He is missed!