Ramunas Vladas Mactkevicius aka Raymond Walter Macys aka Sandy Macys passed away in his sleep on October 7, 2025, at his home in Florida.
Sandy was born on November 17, 1947, in Schweinfurt, Germany, to Lithuanian parents. When Sandy was 3, he and his family moved to the United States and the first place they landed was Enosburg Falls, Vermont, where Sandy's dad was a farmhand. They then moved to Waterbury, Connecticut. When Sandy started school, he got held back in kindergarten because he did not speak English… yet. After learning more English, Sandy went back to kindergarten the following year and did well throughout his school years. Sandy became a Boy Scout which shaped his life. He loved being a Boy Scout. During the summer he worked at Lake Quassapaug in Middlebury, Connecticut, where he had many fun memories. He also was a lifeguard. After graduating from high school Sandy went to Europe and on a Eurail Pass traveled to many different countries and had quite the fun and experiences for a young man.
Sandy attended Paire School of Interior Design in Connecticut. After graduating from that school, Sandy realized he did not want to have a career indoors. The first place that he skied and became a ski patroller was Mount Southington, Connecticut, in 1966. From there he started ski patrolling at Killington in 1970 in Vermont. In 1974 he made his way to Waitsfield, Vermont, and ski patrolled at Sugarbush for almost 50 years, plus was a photographer for the mountain." Like many of his friends, he fell in love with The Valley.
Sandy was National Certified Ski Patroller 23. Skiing, and in the past ice climbing, were some of his favorite things to do. He taught himself to ski by watching other skiers and listening to ski instructors giving instructions to students. He loved going to Tucker Ravine on Mount Washington to ski and to take photos. Sandy told his partner Debbie that he skied FIS at Sugarbush in five turns.
Sandy was a true outdoorsman. He loved skiing, snowshoeing, fishing, hunting, kayaking, boating, biking, canoeing. He did have a knack for flipping a kayak or canoe over once or twice.
Sandy taught himself photography. He certainly had an eye and a sixth sense for being at the right place at the right time. Some of his favorite memories was photographing Formula One in Montreal and many NASCAR races. Sandy was a great wildlife photographer and a great wedding photographer. He also worked at the Times Argus as a staff photographer. His professional photography career started at UPI, United Press International.
Sandy met Debbie Slinn at The Blue Tooth in Warren, Vermont, on the first day of winter in 2002. On that evening Sandy approached Debbie, and after talking a bit, asked for her address so that he could send her a Christmas card and a ski pass. Well, Debbie never professed to being a "good" skier. Sandy found that out one blizzard day when he found Debbie on the top of a trail (where Debbie should not have been) on the ground. He helped Debbie up, gave her a quick kiss, and down the hill he went. Debbie found out later that Sandy told the rest of the ski patrollers, "She can't ski!" That was almost a deal breaker, but Debbie and Sandy found their way into each other's hearts and they were together for 23 years. Never long enough.
Another story of note, when Sandy and Debbie were first dating, Sandy picked up a freshly-killed grouse off of the road on his way to Debbie's home. He breasted it and then sauteed it. Debbie knew then he was a keeper.
Sandy leaves behind the love of his life, Debbie Slinn, and pups Scout and Ranger. Sandy will be sorely missed by many. So many people knew who Sandy was. One time while in San Antonio at The Alamo he saw someone he knew, said hi. And then on the same trip, at the River Walk in San Antonio, someone hailed to him from across the river and one other friend at another place there. One time while at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts another person recognized him.
Sandy was preceded in death by his parents, Sophia and Walter Macys. A sister, Sharune Macys, and nieces Zaidre Petrukevicus and Ina Grove in Connecticut. He also has a cousin in Lithuania, Ramute Steigviliene, that he finally met a couple of years back after Debbie and he traveled to Lithuania.
Sandy was a beloved human being, always there to assist anyone on the mountain. He had a kind heart, was fair and patient, easy on the eyes, and had a great sense of humor.
Debbie is planning on bringing Sandy's ashes up to Vermont for a celebration of his life late spring or early summer. A venue has not been decided upon at this time.
Memorials may be made to the Sugarbush Ski Patrol.
