Ned Lawrence Sokol

Ned was born in Cleveland, Ohio on March 11, 1938, to father Julius Sokol and mother Evelyn Stetina. In 1947, the parents, Ned, and his brother, Dennis, came across the country on Route 66 all the way to North Hollywood. Later, they moved to La Cresenta and to Tujunga. Ned's father died unexpectedly at age 44. Ned's mother later married his stepfather, Thomas Henderson, and Ned graduated from Verdugo Hills High School. He trained in Tool and Die and went to work for Lockheed where he met Tony (the Hungarian) Horwath who became a ski buddy for 60 years. Ned and his brother were active in the L.A. area Ski Club Avalanche in the 1960's and spent many wonderful times with ski patrol folks at Mammoth Mountain and water skiing at Pine Flats reservoir in the summer. 

Ned moved to Denver, Colorado in the 70s and skied many mountains, including Copper Mountain where he hit a tree and broke his ankle. Due to several unsuccessful ankle fusions, Ned had to change careers and became a Real Estate Broker at his firm called Sokol, Hosking and Associates in Arvada. He married Karen Miller and became a stepdad to Tim and Rick. He was a broker for several realty investment firms selling ski properties (Alpine Western, Western Land Company, Ponderosa Homes). Ned learned to use a modified ski boot and began to teach at disabled skiing programs those who were blind, had missing limbs or other problems. For many years he was a member of the large FAGO WEE ski club of Denver. Ned later went to work in Breckinridge allowing frequent skiing adventures. 

After divorce, Ned moved to L.A. in 1987 to live with his brother and skied again at Mammoth. In 1988, Ned moved to Shingle Springs in the Sacramento area to be closer to disabled ski programs. He was a devoted member of the FAGOWEE ski club of Sacramento. He met Angie Bifano at an event at the Delta King in Old Sacramento. They were married in September 1991 at a marina as they enjoyed boating. They lived in Fair Oaks. 

In 1995 Ned and Angie bought an old miner's cabin in Wardner, Idaho at the Silver Mountain Ski Resort near Cour d'Alene with partner Tony the Hungarian from California. Many trips on Southwest Airline were taken to do a total remodel in this historic Bunker Hill Silver mine area. Ned and Tony were able to ski Silver Mountain for 12 years while Angie lodged and cooked. 

The Sokol's retired in 1998 and moved to Grants Pass to a large log home on eight acres on Murphy Creek (an even larger remodel project). Their Grandson, Mike Hilton, came to live with them with Angie's daughter Antonia. She moved to Portland to work. Ned played an important role in Mike's life, and he continued to visit them often and assisted with Ned's Hospice experience. Many fine parties were held there for 18 years until they downsized to one acre in 2016 in the Cathedral Hills area, another remodeling project. Ned and Angie were part of several gourmet dinner groups for many years that gave them many life-long friends. Ned's love of Country Music spurred him to take up the Pedal Steel Guitar the rest of his life. 

The Sokol's spent time often in Hilo and other Hawaiian Islands because Ned's parents lived in Hilo for 30 years. Tom and Eve moved to Grants Pass for the last seven years of their lives. While helping his parents, Ned had a total limb reconstruction at Legacy Hospital Trauma Center in 2001, which allowed him to ski at Mt. Ashland until his 80th birthday. Ned dealt with late effects of polio in recent years but continued to work out regularly at his beloved YMCA. 

Ned passed away on Hospice at home on September 13, after several hospitalizations due to sepsis complications of Covid and following many longterm effects of polio. 

Ned is survived by his wife, Angie; his brother, Dennis in Missouri; his grandson, Michael Hilton in Scapposse, OR; his step-daughter, Antonia Bifano-Freeman in Salem area; and his step-son, Allen Bifano Esq. in Santa Barbara, CA. His charitable interests have included saving animals, Mt. Ashland Association, and his church, the Grants Pass Center for Spiritual Living. Special thanks to Dr. Angela Mount of Rogue Medicine, staff at Providence Hospital (West Wing), and Providence Home Health, Palliative Care and Hospice. 

A Celebration of Life was held for Ned at Grants Pass Center for Spiritual Living located at Pine and “I” Street in Grants Pass (address 466 SW I” Street) on October 13, 2024 at 4pm. A YouTube version of the service can be found here: https://youtu.be/wybWTK0FqaE?si=R0dGKhVAaIJ9IFS4