Leopold "Poldi" Pfeifenberger Iii

KILLINGTON- Leopold “Poldi” Pfeifenberger III, 82, passed away at his home on December 31, 2023, surrounded by family and friends, as any entertainer would love to have timed properly.

Leopold was born in Salzburg, Austria on April 19, 1941, the son of Leopold Pfeifenberger II and Maria Ferner. He was raised in the city of Salzburg but loved the country as well. He would often travel to Lungau, Austria to see other family members on the farm. It was here he grew to love animals and the beautiful mountains and fresh air. Poldi also had a passion for skiing, motorcycles, soccer, tennis, mountain climbing, community service and especially music. Poldi had been past President and long-time member of the Killington/Pico Rotary Club which his son, Gerald is now the current Rotary President. Poldi lived life by the “Service Above Self” rotary motto and the Rotary 4-way test as well.

Poldi started as an apprentice at 14 years old for Angermaier Plumbing in Salzburg, Austria. He worked there 4 to 5 years until enlisting in the Austrian Army in 1958 where he worked up to the rank of Wachtmeister (weapons inspector).

After being in the Austrian Army for 7 years he asked his commander if he could take a leave of absence as he had been offered a job. With this opportunity, Poldi came to America to entertain, play music and teach skiing at Killington.  After returning to Austria yearly at the end of the winter season he realized another opportunity. He was amazed that he could just start his own plumbing and heating business over here and earn whatever he wanted or could make.

In 1968 he did a one-year apprenticeship here in Bethel, VT. He had taken plumbing classes at night and worked in plumbing during the day. He was then able to sit for the Master plumbing license under the grandfather clause here in VT. He was able to ace his plumbing exam to get his Master license with the highest grade in the class which was great for a foreigner.

For many years after becoming a Master Plumber, Poldi was the owner and operator of Poldi Plumbing and Heating in Killington. He worked on many if not most of the houses and condos up here on Killington Mountain.

As the area and the sport of skiing grew, so did his business. He worked with many builders and designed the plumbing and heating systems in the new condos and houses being built in the area. He did all the plumbing and heating, and the drafting board was always hot with all the planning and designs. He and his crew then did all the installation over the years and slowly built up the reputation and came up with the slogan or tag line “With Poldi a Flush Beats A Full House” which he displayed on sweatshirts for marketing. He happily handed them out to many people especially the pretty ladies in town.

During his skiing and entertaining years, Poldi met an attractive young lady, also a professional ski instructor at Killington, and Summit Lodge employee, where he played music and she waitressed. The zipper on her coat had broken, and it was a freezing cold day, so he offered to take her ski class, and little did he know the relationship had begun. At the end of the ski season, he finally asked her out just before going home for the Summer. After 4 years of going back and forth to his homeland eventually asked for her hand in marriage to be the love of his life, forever. He married Dale Hardy on Oct. 11, 1969, in Littleton, Mass down the hill from where Dale grew up.

In 1972 the happily married couple purchased their first condo at Hemlock Ridge off the Killington access Rd. A shag carpet where a soft cushy bean bag finally worked and their son, Leopold “PJ” Pfeifenberger IV was born 9 months later in Oct. 1974.

Poldi’s business was growing, and he now had 6 employees they were able to put a deposit on a piece of land in North Sherburne. Eventually through the help of another friend and the best Austrian builder around, Adi Staudinger, Chalet Pfeifenberger had been constructed and they moved in the fall of 1979 and continued to add to it over these years.

PJ had his 5th Birthday party at the new house where Dales’s father, Daddy Dana did an amazing magic show for the birthday goers and pulled a new baby rabbit out of a cake pan that we had had for many years.

Later that night as things were winding down the phone rang, and the news changed our lives forever.  It was Klaus, Poldi’s youngest brother, calling to let us know that there had been a terrible accident and that they had lost their middle brother, Peter, and his sister In-law, and grandma in a horrific car wreck. The only ones to survive were the kids. A son of whom was in a coma and the other daughter, Ulrike was paralyzed from the waist down. The good news was that the son’s health eventually improved, and he came home to America and gave PJ a new 22-month-old baby brother, Gerald. The daughter ended up staying in Austria with a loving aunt and her husband. Gerald’s sister, Ulrike, has become a doctor. Poldi was very proud of all the children.

He is survived by his wife Dale H. Pfeifenberger; sons Leopold “PJ” Pfeifenberger IV of S. Burlington and Gerald Pfeifenberger of Killington; brother Klaus Anton Pfeifenberger and wife Edith of Salzburg, Austria; Dana Hardy, Dale’s brother from New Hampshire & Florida and several cousins, nieces, and nephews. He also has one handsome grandson Leopold “Leo” Pfeifenberger V from South Burlington.

He was predeceased by his parents, Leopold and Maria Pfeifenberger. Also, his middle brother Peter Pfeifenberger and wife Elfreida.

Friends and family may call on Friday January 26, 2024, from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at the new Killington Fire Station, 800 Killington Rd. Killington VT.

A Funeral service will be held at Our Lady of the Mountains Church at 1 pm on Saturday January 27, 2024. 4173 US Rt-4 Killington, VT.

Arrangements were made under the direction of Clifford Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers memorial Contributions may be made to the Killington Pico Rotary Club at PO Box 179
Killington, VT 05751.