I represent five generations of family members who have visited Sun Valley every year since its founding in 1936. We and hundreds of other families like us cannot imagine the loss of Claude Guigon from the resort.
As I have watched the evolution of Sun Valley from the Harriman family through the Janss family and now through the Holding family, one constant has always been the resort's connection to families and the generational bonds that Sun Valley creates. Aspen, Park City and Heavenly Valley are cosmopolitan ski resorts and hotels like the Four Seasons provide unmatchable service. But only Sun Valley provides a unique and unmatched full-service atmosphere for families—a safe, healthy environment with strong historical values. And now, under the Holding family, with first-class facilities as well.
For all of us—grandparents, parents, children and in many cases, great-grandchildren, Claude has been like a member of the family and Sun Valley's goodwill ambassador at large. He has helped us with weddings and anniversaries. He has attended to "important" families and to governors, senators and virtually every dignitary who has had pleasure of visiting Sun Valley. And, at the end of the day, he still has had time for families like ours and the guests we bring each year. He reaches out to younger new families as well and brings them into the Wood River experience. Louis Stur was like that. And many other longtime employees and managers are like that as well, in large part because of Claude. You don't get that at any other resort in the world. That only happens in Sun Valley.
Marriner C. Eccles
Belvedere, Calif.
