Honoring Ray Shriver: Father, Loving Partner, Adventurer, Mountaineer, Mentor, Dog Handler

February 15 is a somber day for Teton County Search & Rescue volunteers. On this day in 2012, founding TCSAR member Ray Shriver tragically died in a helicopter crash during a rescue mission. 

On the anniversary of his passing, we commemorate Ray's life and legacy, and keep his family in our thoughts and prayers. It's important that our community never forget his invaluable contributions to TCSAR, and how he made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of others.

This year, we want to share a poem from TCSAR volunteer Terri Romanowski. The day after the crash, Terri did the only thing she could think of to make sense of the tragedy. She sat down and put the below words to paper as a way of honoring her friend and mentor.

You can learn more about Ray and his legacy by visiting the Shriver Society, which was created in his honor.

From wherever you are, please join us in giving thanks to Ray for helping make TCSAR what it is today.

Last night we lost a great friend,
a rescuer through and through right to the end.

Ray not only was a rescuer but a K9 extraordinaire,
he taught and mentored many, leaving none to spare.

Yesterday, they received the call sending them out,
gathering equipment, through the door they were en route.

When life hangs in the balance needing critical care,
these selfless providers quickly took to the air.

Trained for the work, with skills tried and true,
spending endless hours without pay, to deal with all the rescues they attend to.

Deep down we know there’s always a chance a member may not come home,
the mission yesterday was his last to be flown.

On the way to seek additional help something went terribly wrong,
now we gather together and try to stay strong.

This goes to all the red coats and first responders of the Valley,
who never, ever fail to rally.

Putting others first, helping their neighbors through the worst,
risking their lives each and every day,
keeping most from harm’s way.

Selflessly our service to community is our reward,
unfortunately at times it can also be our sword.

—Terri Romanowski, SAR #25,
TCSAR volunteer since 2001, pictured below with
Ray Shriver and search dog Kita.

The Fine Line podcast presents "The Ray Shriver Story"

On February 15, 2012, Teton County Search and Rescue received an emergency call to help an injured snowmobiler in the Togwotee area, about 60 miles northeast of Jackson, Wyoming. The response started like many others, with the team gathering at the hangar to decide on a plan. Given the remote nature of the accident, they decided to send the helicopter pilot with two SAR volunteers, Mike Moyer and Ray Shriver. The routine call would turn out to be anything but, as tragedy unfolded beneath the blue Wyoming sky, forcing the volunteers to search for their own, with Shriver, a founding TCSAR member, paying the ultimate price.

In this two-part series, TCSAR volunteers and Shriver’s two sons remember him as an influential, if hard-nosed, team member and father, and explain how they were able to emerge from the wreckage and move forward. We also speak with Moyer about the crash, while volunteers Carol Viau and Tim Ciocarlan talk about the team’s response and recovery.

Learn more about Shriver and how you can help the TCSAR Foundation keep his memory alive by visiting the Shriver Society page.

Thank you to Roadhouse Brewing Company for sponsoring The Fine Line and their support of backcountry safety in Jackson Hole.