Dodie was raised in Reno, Nevada and began skiing in childhood. She raced as a Reno Ski Club junior in 1938, and by 1940 she was the top junior in the Far West and raced in the President's Cup Sun Valley Championships. She began training in Sun Valley during 1941 and 1942, winning local competitions. In 1944 she skied in RKO's News Sports Shorts, filmed by Otto Lang at Alta.
She was selected for the 1948 Olympic team and elected captain. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle while training at St. Moritz and could not compete. In 1949 she ran a ski school at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From 195 to 1955 she instructed at Squaw Valley, California. In 1956 Dodie managed the women's Olympic Training Camp at Sun Valley, and subsequently, the U.S. Women's Olympic Team at Corina.
She met her future husband, novelist Ernest K. Gann, while ski instructing and initially became his secretary. She joined him on his sailing ship, Albatros, as he sailed the world. The two lived together for many years and were married in 1966. Ernie and Dodie were a good match, adventurous, outgoing, and in love with the outdoors.
In 1966 they bought an 800 acre cattle ranch, Red Hill Farm, on San Juan Island, Washington, and spent the rest of their lives there. They enjoyed flying together in their Cessna 310, "The Noon Balloon", and travelled extensively. The couple bought a 1958 Cessna 172 that Dodie learned to fly.
In 1973 Dodie became the first woman elected to the University of Nevada's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was later inducted in the U.S. Ski Team Hall of Fame.
After Ernie's death in 1991, Dodie continued at the Farm and enjoyed the company of many friends on the island. She remained active with the local flying community, and hosted the San Juan Pilot's Association picnic every year at her hangar.
Recognizing the high regard the aviation community held for her late husband, Dodie donated his writing cabin to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it was reconstructed, complete with his personal effects much as he left them.
Dodie and Ernie had begun donating portions of their land to the San Juan Preservation Trust as early as 1980, and upon her death in 2012, the remainder of Red Hill Farm was left to be preserved.
A lifelong dog lover, Dodie is remembered annually at San Juan's Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk.
She was selected for the 1948 Olympic team and elected captain. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle while training at St. Moritz and could not compete. In 1949 she ran a ski school at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From 195 to 1955 she instructed at Squaw Valley, California. In 1956 Dodie managed the women's Olympic Training Camp at Sun Valley, and subsequently, the U.S. Women's Olympic Team at Corina.
She met her future husband, novelist Ernest K. Gann, while ski instructing and initially became his secretary. She joined him on his sailing ship, Albatros, as he sailed the world. The two lived together for many years and were married in 1966. Ernie and Dodie were a good match, adventurous, outgoing, and in love with the outdoors.
In 1966 they bought an 800 acre cattle ranch, Red Hill Farm, on San Juan Island, Washington, and spent the rest of their lives there. They enjoyed flying together in their Cessna 310, "The Noon Balloon", and travelled extensively. The couple bought a 1958 Cessna 172 that Dodie learned to fly.
In 1973 Dodie became the first woman elected to the University of Nevada's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was later inducted in the U.S. Ski Team Hall of Fame.
After Ernie's death in 1991, Dodie continued at the Farm and enjoyed the company of many friends on the island. She remained active with the local flying community, and hosted the San Juan Pilot's Association picnic every year at her hangar.
Recognizing the high regard the aviation community held for her late husband, Dodie donated his writing cabin to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it was reconstructed, complete with his personal effects much as he left them.
Dodie and Ernie had begun donating portions of their land to the San Juan Preservation Trust as early as 1980, and upon her death in 2012, the remainder of Red Hill Farm was left to be preserved.
A lifelong dog lover, Dodie is remembered annually at San Juan's Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk.
Dodie was raised in Reno, Nevada and began skiing in childhood. She raced as a Reno Ski Club junior in 1938, and by 1940 she was the top junior in the Far West and raced in the President's Cup Sun Valley Championships. She began training in Sun Valley during 1941 and 1942, winning local competitions. In 1944 she skied in RKO's News Sports Shorts, filmed by Otto Lang at Alta.
She was selected for the 1948 Olympic team and elected captain. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle while training at St. Moritz and could not compete. In 1949 she ran a ski school at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From 195 to 1955 she instructed at Squaw Valley, California. In 1956 Dodie managed the women's Olympic Training Camp at Sun Valley, and subsequently, the U.S. Women's Olympic Team at Corina.
She met her future husband, novelist Ernest K. Gann, while ski instructing and initially became his secretary. She joined him on his sailing ship, Albatros, as he sailed the world. The two lived together for many years and were married in 1966. Ernie and Dodie were a good match, adventurous, outgoing, and in love with the outdoors.
In 1966 they bought an 800 acre cattle ranch, Red Hill Farm, on San Juan Island, Washington, and spent the rest of their lives there. They enjoyed flying together in their Cessna 310, "The Noon Balloon", and travelled extensively. The couple bought a 1958 Cessna 172 that Dodie learned to fly.
In 1973 Dodie became the first woman elected to the University of Nevada's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was later inducted in the U.S. Ski Team Hall of Fame.
After Ernie's death in 1991, Dodie continued at the Farm and enjoyed the company of many friends on the island. She remained active with the local flying community, and hosted the San Juan Pilot's Association picnic every year at her hangar.
Recognizing the high regard the aviation community held for her late husband, Dodie donated his writing cabin to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it was reconstructed, complete with his personal effects much as he left them.
Dodie and Ernie had begun donating portions of their land to the San Juan Preservation Trust as early as 1980, and upon her death in 2012, the remainder of Red Hill Farm was left to be preserved.
A lifelong dog lover, Dodie is remembered annually at San Juan's Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk.
She was selected for the 1948 Olympic team and elected captain. Unfortunately, she broke her ankle while training at St. Moritz and could not compete. In 1949 she ran a ski school at Jackson Hole, Wyoming. From 195 to 1955 she instructed at Squaw Valley, California. In 1956 Dodie managed the women's Olympic Training Camp at Sun Valley, and subsequently, the U.S. Women's Olympic Team at Corina.
She met her future husband, novelist Ernest K. Gann, while ski instructing and initially became his secretary. She joined him on his sailing ship, Albatros, as he sailed the world. The two lived together for many years and were married in 1966. Ernie and Dodie were a good match, adventurous, outgoing, and in love with the outdoors.
In 1966 they bought an 800 acre cattle ranch, Red Hill Farm, on San Juan Island, Washington, and spent the rest of their lives there. They enjoyed flying together in their Cessna 310, "The Noon Balloon", and travelled extensively. The couple bought a 1958 Cessna 172 that Dodie learned to fly.
In 1973 Dodie became the first woman elected to the University of Nevada's Athletic Hall of Fame. She was later inducted in the U.S. Ski Team Hall of Fame.
After Ernie's death in 1991, Dodie continued at the Farm and enjoyed the company of many friends on the island. She remained active with the local flying community, and hosted the San Juan Pilot's Association picnic every year at her hangar.
Recognizing the high regard the aviation community held for her late husband, Dodie donated his writing cabin to the EAA Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, where it was reconstructed, complete with his personal effects much as he left them.
Dodie and Ernie had begun donating portions of their land to the San Juan Preservation Trust as early as 1980, and upon her death in 2012, the remainder of Red Hill Farm was left to be preserved.
A lifelong dog lover, Dodie is remembered annually at San Juan's Dodie Gann Memorial Dog Walk.
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