William "Bill" Engle

William ‘Bill’ Engle, 77, much to his surprise, has passed away.

Born February 22, 1949, in Nyack, New York, Bill left this earth quietly and peacefully at home on August 26, 2026 in Questa, New Mexico. The previous week, he was discussing his next career move and business ideas with his family.

Trying to summarize Bill’s life here feels a little silly. He packed more lives into 77 years than most people could reasonably manage.

He was a farmer, musician, skier, climber, firefighter, motorcyclist, hunter, fisherman, mechanic, logger, heavy equipment operator, hiking guide, Landscape & Stone artist, entrepreneur, adventurer, foodie & and cook, and lifelong collector of stories, many of which sounded improbable until you learned they were actually true.

Early life was spent on the family farm in New York’s Hudson River Valley, one of five children set loose and wild upon the land the family called home. While learning the family commercial apple business, he also learned about science fiction, art, illustration and painting from his beloved grandad, Frank R. Paul, known as the ‘Father of Science Fiction Illustration’. Billy was often present as FRP painted Amazing Stories covers and did countless illustrations from his studio in NYC. He played the bass horn so well he was accepted at WestPoint Military Academy, but instead he made his way to Woodstock, crossed the country multiple times on various motorcycles, and landed for a time at Arlo Guthrie’s in the Berkshires, as well as some time in the Sierra Nevadas. It should come as no surprise that he also found his way onto skis as a movie extra.

And that was only the beginning.

Skiing is one of the first loves of his life. The early ’70s found him at Butternut Basin in Massachusetts, where he would spend nearly two decades combined, as Snowmaking Supervisor, Grooming Supervisor and eventually Mountain Manager. In between, he worked at two Lake Tahoe resorts and in the excavation business. The mountains suited him.

Eventually, Northern New Mexico became home. At Taos Ski Valley, Bill did many things: Moving snow, Felling trees, Snowmaking, Grooming trails, and lending his considerable ingenuity wherever it was needed. Someone once said: ‘where there is a Bill, there is a way.’ His work became part of the mountain itself, and evidence of it remains there today.

The most important part of Bill’s life on Earth was not the improbable stories, the adventures, or the résumé. It was his family. At 55 years young, Bill became a father, and everything changed.

Bill and Marie welcomed Eliza in 2004, and from that moment on, she was the pride and joy of his life. Together, the three of them built a life filled with adventures, laughter, music, mountains, and memories that now feel far too precious to count. Through skiing, art, and music, Bill and Eliza shared a bond uniquely their own. One that does not end here, but will travel with Eliza as she continues to make her way in the world.

Bill was enormously proud of the woman she became, and deeply grateful that he got to see her grow up, graduate from college, and begin a career in the arts. Even in his final days, he was still being her dad: proud, interested, and looking ahead for her. Just last week, he was trying to hustle her for a job.

For a man who lived such a remarkably big life, there was no greater adventure, no greater accomplishment, and no greater source of pride than being Eliza’s father.

Bill is survived by his wife, Marie Engle of Questa, NM and his daughter, Eliza Engle of Santa Fe, NM. He is also survived by his sister, Joanne Engle, of Rhinebeck NY, with whom he shared countless adventures over the years, and his niece Leighanne Henniges, with whom he shared a birthday and a special bond. Not to be forgotten, he also leaves his Siamese Cat ‘Son’, Pookie, who has been his best feline friend since 2018.

Bill was complicated, brilliant, funny, messy, stubborn, adventurous, interesting, tenacious, hardworking, talkative, generous, enthusiastic and authentically himself. He did not live a quiet little life, and don’t we all know it. He lived in the present moment yet always kept finding another chapter.

Now, Bill has gone somewhere none of us can follow him just yet.

Wherever that is, we hope there are big mountains, plenty of motorcycles, good snow and somebody else to do the work so he can rest.

Our family is so deeply grateful to the team at Red Willow Hospice for their compassion, humanity, and unwavering support through the very difficult weeks leading up to Bill finally being set free.

The family of William “Bill” Engle has entrusted the care of their loved one to the caring staff of DeVargas Funeral Home of Taos. www.devargastaos.com 1-866-657-4019