Dennis Machill aka "Cowboy"
1950 - 2003

This information forwarded to The Inyo Register by Moira Doherty, a friend and former ski student of Dennis Machill, 
was written by a anonymous author and posted on the Internet.  We have agreed to run it in the absence of a formal 
obituary submitted by family or a funeral home.   -Ed. 

Dennis Machill, born March 20, 1950 in Wyoming, to Hernandez Onofre and Elizabeth Beryle, died on April 16, 2003, at 
St. Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach, after a valiant struggle with complications from an accident which left him 
a quadriplegic.

Dennis never married, and was an only child.  His father was 53 years old when Dennis was born, and his mother was 
in her early 30s.

Dennis was known as "Cowboy" and lived a full life in the Sierra working as a ski instructor and guide with pack 
stations.  Dennis was a ski instructor with the Mammoth Mountain Ski Resort, and also with the Yosemite Ski School.  
Many of Dennis' students benefited greatly from his talent in teaching, as he was able to take them to the next 
level in their skiing, giving them a marvelous sense of accomplishment and self-esteem.

What Dennis tried to teach others in the short time he had after his accident in May of 2002, is best said by author 
Dawna Markoya, who wrote: "I will not die an unlived life.  I will not live in fear of falling or catching fire.  I 
choose to inhabit my days, to allow my living to open me, to make me less afraid, more accessible, to loosen my 
heart until it becomes a wing, a torch, a promise.  I choose to risk my significance; to live so that which comes to 
me as seed goes to the next as blossom and that which comes to me as blossom, goes on as fruit."

Dennis had a deep and abiding respect and love for his fellow ski instructors, and those whom he called his friends.  
For Dennis, his friends were his family.  Dennis was a man full of life, who said that he had lived three lives in 
his one life.  Not many of us may be able to say the same.  His advice to others before the end of his life was to 
do just that, live life fully and to appreciate every moment and every benefit in our lives now.  It is often easy 
to see what is missing in our lives, rather than to know the gifts that have been given to each of us.  Dennis 
shared his love of life and his biting common "horse" sense with those who knew and even only met him once or twice.  
Not one to be beat easily, and even while Dennis was in the hospital on a ventilator, he insisted that he would 
leave the hospital, get off a ventilator, and have a girlfriend to share his life.  Such a passion to get back up on 
the horse is admirable, and was a glimpse of what is the true measure of a person, the ability to persist in the 
face of adversity and hang onto a positive attitude.  To the extent one is able to change their perspective, their 
ability to overcome all obstacles becomes enhanced tenfold.

Dennis' spirit may be well expressed in the words of author Jack London, who wrote: "I would rather be ashes than 
dust!  I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry rot.  I 
would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet.  The 
proper function of man is to live, not to exist.  I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them.  I shall use 
my time.

It is appreciated if, in memory of Dennis Machill, you would touch someone today, and share whatever gifts you have 
been given.

The Inyo Register, Bishop, Inyo County, California
Tuesday, September 23, 2003 - Page A2
Transcribed by Pat Houser for Inyo County GenWeb, January 4, 2005