Grace Dolbeck Leach Hudowalski

ALBANY Grace Dolbeck Leach Hudowalski, a long-time Capital District resident died Saturday, March 13, 2004 at Guilderland Centre Nursing Home, Guilderland Center, N.Y. at the age of 98. Born in Ticonderoga, N.Y. and raised in the surrounding foothills of the Adirondack Mountains, which she so adored her entire life, Grace was the youngest child of James Casper Leach and Alice Luella Dolbeck, and wife of the late Edward Hudowalski. In both her professional and personal life, Grace devoted her talents and energy to promoting the exploration of New York State and in particular the Adirondack Mountains. She was travel promotion supervisor for the New York Department of Commerce from 1948 until her retirement in 1961. Representing the state at travel shows throughout the U.S. and Canada, Grace spoke regularly on radio and television programs across the country. Locally, she was featured on a weekly broadcast, heard on radio station WGY in Schenectady. An expert on folklore, she also presented a regional history program on public broadcast station WMHT and was a much-acclaimed public speaker during the 1950s and 1960s. Grace's hiking accomplishments and life-long love of the Adirondack Mountains are legendary. She was the first woman to climb the 46 Adirondack Mountains over 4,000 feet in elevation and the ninth person to record that feat. She made her first ascent of Mt. Marcy, the state's highest peak, on August 2, 1922 and completed her climbs of the 46 High Peaks on Mt. Esther on August 26, 1937. The checkered hiking shorts that she wore on most of her climbs are on display at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, N.Y. Grace was a member of the Forty-Sixers of Troy, a small group comprised mainly of hiking enthusiasts from Grace Methodist Church in Troy, N.Y. As interest in climbing the Adirondack High Peaks grew, Grace was instrumental in expanding the membership of this small group beyond Troy. Grace was a founding member of the Adirondack Forty-Sixers, Inc. and organized its first meeting on May 30, 1948. She served as the new club's first president from 1948-1951. Grace also served as the club's historian, a position she held until her death. In her volunteer work as club historian, Grace established a recording system to monitor the progress of hikers seeking membership in the Adirondack Forty-Sixers. She maintained personal correspondence with each climber, a feature unique among hiking clubs, writing thousands of letters, upwards of 2,000 each year, to the over 5,000 hikers who have climbed the 46 Adirondack High Peaks throughout the club's 56-year history. For over 60 years, Grace served as a friend, companion and guide to Adirondack hikers through her correspondence, building a significant historical record, which is housed permanently in the New York State Archives. Grace was also active in other Adirondack region organizations. She served as executive secretary for the Adirondack North Country Association (now the Adirondack Park Association) for 21 years, writing brochures, press releases and other informational pieces. An active member of the Adirondack Mountain Club, Inc., she was also contributing editor for its publications High Spots and Adirondac and editor of the Albany Chapter's Cloud Splitter. She was also a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of America, and a past president of the New York Folklore Society. Grace's contributions to the Adirondacks have been repeatedly recognized. Most recently, the Adirondack Mountain Club conferred on her its highest honor, the Trail Blazer Award, at their annual banquet, which was held the evening of her death. In recognition of her life-long service to the state and the Adirondack region, the Adirondack 46ers are spearheading an effort to rename the Adirondack High Peak, East Dix, Grace Peak in her honor. Grace is survived by her nephew, Joseph Sproule of N.C.; nieces, Elizabeth Attwell and Patricia DeLarm of Fla.; many adoring great and great-great nieces and nephews, and countless friends constituting her extended 46er family. Grace is fondly remembered by those in the climbing community whose lives she touched during the 60 years she selflessly devoted to guiding climbers through their adventures in the Adirondack High Peaks. A memorial service celebrating Grace's life will be held Sunday, March 21, 2004 at Trinity United Methodist Church, 235 Lark St., Albany, N.Y. at 2:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers and in keeping with Grace's wishes, memorial contributions may be made to the endowment Grace established to continue her work of promoting the responsible use of the Adirondack Forest Preserve: Adirondack 46R Conservation Trust, PO Box 757, Schenectady, New York 12301