Pittsfield, MA – George Jervas, the owner of Bousquet ski area in the Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts for the past 30 years, passed away suddenly on Monday. He was 76.

A Brooklyn, N.Y. native, Jervas died at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, where he was transported after suffering a cardiac condition while working at the ski area on Monday.

“The snow must go on, rest in peace George,” is the sole official reference to Jervas’ passing posted to the ski area’s Facebook page.

“I met George a number of years ago,” added Donald Dmytryshyn of Pittsfield. “He was a very genuine person. Even though I only spoke to him a few times over the years. Every time I ran in to him would always stop to say high. See you on the other side George!”

Jervas had in recent years used a golf cart to get around the 80-year-old ski area property after suffering a stroke. But he still had limited mobility and continued to work at the site regularly, maintaining a hands-on approach to running the ski area on Dan Fox Drive that overlooks downtown Pittsfield.

Jervas acquired the ski area out of foreclosure 31 years ago as a member of a four-way partnership. He had owned the ski area outright for the past 15 years.

A memorial service will take place at 11 a.m. this Saturday at Bousquet.