Richard ‘Dick’ Bass Passes Away at 85

Snowbird, Utah – Richard Daniel “Dick” Bass, the first person to climb the highest point on each of the seven continents, passed away Sunday, July 26, 2015 at the age of 85 surrounded by family in Dallas, Texas.

Born Dec. 21, 1929 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bass completed the “Seven Summits” at age 55 in 1985 when he summited Mt. Everest on his fourth attempt with guide and lifelong friend David Breashears. Bass co-founded Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort in 1971 with Ted Johnson and maintained sole ownership of the Utah resort for four decades until the Bass family sold majority interest in Snowbird to Ian Cumming in May 2014. Bass suffered from pulmonary fibrosis. 

“The Snowbird family is mourning the loss of a great man who changed so many of our lives for the better,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar, who worked for Bass since before the resort opened.

Bass is survived by wife Alice, four children and 13 grandchildren as well as five stephchildren and 11 step grandchildren. 

Bass was known for his love of poetry, art, travel, literature and people. A conversation with Bass was never brief but always entertaining with his homespun aphorisms he called “Bassisms.”

Funeral services will be Friday, July 31, 4 p.m., at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Dallas, Texas. 

For media information, contact Brian Brown at bbrown@snowbird.com or (801) 933-2047.