Wife Mourns Husband Who Died After Falling from Chairlift, Shares Poignant Way She Wants Him to Be Honored

Mar. 15, 2025

Jeffrey Zinne and his family.Photo:GoFundMe

GoFundMe

A Montana woman is speaking out after herhusband died after falling from a faulty chairliftat a ski resort.

Jeffrey Zinne, 37, was alone on a ski lift at Red Lodge Mountain just before noon local time on Monday, March 10, when he plummeted to the ground, theAssociated PressandLongview News-Journalreported.

The snowboarder was transported to a Billings hospital, where he died two days later. Red Lodge Mountain spokesperson Troy Hawks said the lift had a mechanical problem at the time of the incident, according to the AP.

In a message shared aGoFundMeset up to support the family, which has raised over $28,000 as of Thursday, May 13, Zinne’s wife Meghan wrote that the “outpouring love and support that we’ve received is astonishing” — and a true reflection of the fact that her husband was “so loved.”

As her message came to a close, she shared a poignant message about how the family wants others to pay tribute to her husband. “In lieu of more flowers I ask that you just take your most beloved and go for a drive to the mountains,” she shared. “Nye was always our favorite spot.”

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In another message on the fundraiser, Jeffrey was remembered as “a devoted husband” to Meghan and a “caring” father of their 2-year-old son — not to mention a “kind-hearted” soul who had a “passion for life” and “always put others first.”

Esther Jensen, who organized the online fundraiser, said Jeffrey “spent his final moments donating his precious organs."

Red Lodge Mountain officials said Jeffrey was on what is known as a Triple Chair, which was stopped after the accident, according to the AP andNews-Journal. Winds in the area were about 65 mph the day of the accident, Spencer Weimar, the resort’s acting interim manager, told the paper.

In astatement, resort officials said the Triple Chair was temporarily closed for an investigation into the incident and would “reopen only when we can ensure the continued safe operation of the lift.”

“We place a top priority on the safety of all of our lifts and lift operations, and perform daily, weekly, monthly, and annual safety measures to better ensure the safe operation of our lifts,” they added.

Representatives for the resort, the Carbon County Sheriff’s Office or the Montana Medical Examiner’s Office did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

source: people.com