Sanctuaries in the Snow

The Winter X Games Shrine (Buttermilk)

The Winter X Games Shrine is on Buttermilk.  It was created during the 2011-2012 ski season by Anthony Belenardo, who, at the time, worked for ESPN and lived in Marina del Ray in California.  Photos of the shrine are below, and all of these were taken on January 23, 2013 (except for the last one, which was taken in March 2012).  Note, you cannot access this shrine during the week of the Winter X Games (unless you know someone).  Memorialzed in this shrine is one Puck Brotz, who worked the X Games for many years and died November 30, 2011, at the age of 41, of a heart condition.  His obituary is shown below in the section following the photos.

Thanks to Anthony Belenardo for his help with this page, and for giving the author an exclusive "behind the scenes" tour during the 2013 Winter X Games.

If you have any information about this item that you would like to share for use on this page, please send to the author at [email protected].

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Patrick "Puck" Brotz Obituary

 

Patrick "Puck" Brotz, 41, of Eugene, OR, passed away unexpectedly Wednesday, November 30, 2011, of a heart condition in Oregon.

He was born August 21, 1970 in Sheboygan to the late Rodney and Patricia (Gedig) Brotz. Puck's two sisters Caroline and Katherine were older and took great care of their brother while growing up. He acquired the nickname "Puck" because his sister Katherine couldn't say Patrick.

Being larger than life is how Puck lived. You always knew he was around. He had an excellent sense of humor, was fun loving, always up for an adventure, and always strived to be great at all he did. He was an expert water skier, excelled in winter sports, and was an avid basketball and football player. Puck was also a member of the Marquette University track team. Besides playing sports he was an enthusiastic fan of all the teams he loved. For several years, beginning in 1998, Puck served Elkton High school as the head track coach. He inspired young athletes to strive for greatness and to never lose sight of the fact that sports are supposed to be fun.

Puck loved sports and life, but most of all he loved his family and friends. As a friend he would go out of his way to help whoever he could. Puck had friends, not acquaintances. His greatest accomplishments in life were to care for his family, raise his two beautiful girls, and be a loving husband.

Survivors include his wife Melissa and his daughters Elsa and Hattie Brotz, all of Eugene, OR. He is also survived by his sister Caroline (George) Brotz-Twohig of Elkhart Lake and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Katherine.

A memorial service for Puck will be held Tuesday, December 13, 2011, at 3:30 P.M., at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Elkhart Lake. The Reverend Dennis VanBeek will officiate. Friends may visit with family at church on Tuesday from 1:30 P.M. until the time of service. A private burial will take place at St. George Cemetery.

Hattie and Elsa Brotz request, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made towards providing clean water for the Mother and Child Health Center being built in Shinshicho, Ethiopia. Contributions can be made via the website www.holtinternational.org/shinshicho or by calling Larry Carter at 503-430-1869.

Zimmer's Westview Funeral and Cremation Care Center is assisting the family with local arrangements. Please visit zimmerfuneralhome.com to send e-mail condolences

Puck's death leaves a void that will never be filled, but his spirit of life will live on with us forever. The best we can do, to remember and honor his life, is to live our lives as he did…. to the fullest.