Minden businessman participates in Olympics closing ceremony

Minden resident and world champion mono skier Peter Axelson will be a member of the delegation to the closing ceremony of the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games.

Axelson is director of Beneficial Designs, one of four wheelchair testing labs in the United States.

He joinsSharing that honor will be Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, U.S. Ambassador to Canada David Jacobson, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice, five-time Olympic gold medalist speed skater Bonnie Blair, 2002 sled hockey Paralympic gold medalist Manuel "Manny" Guerra and 1992 Olympic gold medalist figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi.

The closing ceremony is 5:30 p.m. Feb. 28. The opening ceremony is on NBC 7:30 p.m. today.

Gardnerville resident Dale Ann Luzzi received photos of her sister-in-law Bonnie Murphy carrying the Olympic torch in Whistler, British Columbia, on Saturday.

Dale Ann, who has lived in Carson Valley with her husband Patrick since 1988, said Bonnie has worked at Whistler Resort, where she is a supervisor of advanced ticket sales. Whistler is the official alpine skiing venue for the Winter Olympics.

Bonnie said she wrote an essay on community and the importance of volunteers.

"I told them all about my volunteer experience with AWARE, our environmental group, starting a breast feeding support group with another mom, Girl Guides, gymnastics, hockey and the school Parent Advisory Council. I was told last May I made the first cut then in July the second cut and then in August congratulations I had been selected on behalf of the Royal Bank of Canada."

Rumor has it that Bonnie may be one of the mascots during events.

Luzzi said her son, 2009 Douglas High graduate Neil, is at the winter X Games, and that other family members are into winter sports.

"I'm the lodge skier," she said.

Neil's attending Johnson & Wales University in Denver.

Topaz Ranch Estates resident Frank I. Ambler Jr. celebrated his 90th birthday on Thursday.

Born Feb. 11, 1920, in Oahu, Hawaii, he was an aircraft mechanic at Hickam Field during the attack on Pearl Harbor. He later moved to the mainland to live in Los Angeles County, where he was superintendent of the county road department.

He and his late wife Ruth were pioneers in Topaz Ranch Estates when they arrived in 1973. He told his caregiver, Bonnie Keesecker, none of the roads were paved when he arrived. He served on the TRE Volunteer Fire Department for several years.

His two daughters, Priscilla and Elizabeth, live in Richland, Wash., with his many grandchildren.

Kurt Hildebrand is editor of The Record-Courier. Reach him at khildebrand@recordcourier.com or 782-5121, ext. 215.