Trailblazer who co-founded Colorado’s first Black ski club dies at 100

A Colorado centenarian who spread her enthusiasm for skiing to others, young and old, white and Black, has died. Valeria Tanaka was born on March 10, 1924 and co-founded Colorado’s first Black ski club. She was featured in a PBS story about the history of skiing in Colorado. Tanaka was energetic and engaged to the end and recently cast her vote in the 2024 presidential election, said her daughter Joanne Tanaka Cuerden.