By Khalida Sarwari
Friends of a man who was killed on U.S. Highway 101 in San Jose early Sunday morning described him as a free spirit, a skilled rock climber, and above all a great friend.
Albert Nugue, 36, was apparently walking from east to west across the southbound lanes of Highway 101 at about 1 a.m. when he was struck by a Subaru near Trimble Road, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The driver of the Subaru was not harmed, but Nugue was pronounced dead at the scene.
Mark Krasnow, a childhood best friend of Nugue’s, said he was in town to pick up his younger brother Timmy from the airport for a road trip the two had planned this week in Southern California or Nevada.
He said Nugue lived in Oakhurst but had a lot of friends in the San Jose area.
Krasnow, 35, lives in Buena Vista, Co., but grew up in Roanoke, Va., with Nugue and their friend Truc Allen, 36. Both described Nugue as someone they were inspired by.
“One of my proudest memories of Albert was during a wrestling competition in the summer when we were in middle school,” Krasnow said. “We ended up wrestling each other in the consolation finals. I just remember going up there and knowing that win or lose it was great we were there together.”
Krasnow said he and Nugue met when they were 5 years old and instantly became friends. The two of them attended the same schools through high school and played on the same sports teams.
He said Nugue had “incredible endurance” and would try any sport, but that he was also the kind of person who would push and motivate others to do their best.
“The thing about Albert is he was a motivated person in everything he did,” Krasnow said. “He wasn’t the most talented or gifted athlete but he worked harder than anyone else and that always put him in the top tier of athletes in anything he did.”
Nugue started a tradition five years ago where every year on his birthday, he decided to climb as many routes in a day as his age. He started at Red Rocks in Las Vegas for his 32nd birthday and returned there Oct. 26 this year for his 36th.
When they spoke on the phone a week ago, Nugue was excitedly telling Krasnow about a trip he had planned to Spain and Turkey. The two of them had planned to go on a ski trip in Colorado after his return from Europe, Krasnow said.
Allen, who now resides in Seattle but was on the same swim team in school with Nugue, said Nugue’s athleticism aside, he was a warm person who was loved by anyone he met.
“He was such a wild spirit,” Allen said. “He was such a fun guy to hang around with … great to have at a party.”
Friend Ryan Wooley said Nugue was a gourmet cook who “made the best breakfast burritos you’ll ever have in the mountains.”
“He’s going to be missed by a lot of people,” Allen said, his voice breaking.
After graduating from Radford University in Virginia, Nugue began working for Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides, a platform where he could inspire the love of the outdoors in others.
Allen credited Nugue’s sense of adventure for inspiring him to forego a traditional office for a job he really enjoys at Outdoor Research Inc.
Tate Guelzow, another close friend of Nugue’s, said Nugue seemed to be having the time of his life every day no matter what he was doing.
“In my mind, Albert will always be on his latest mission, wearing Oakley shades and a mammoth grin, and having the time of his life,” Guelzow said.
Perhaps no one would be surprised if that is what Nugue was up to now. In his biography on the Southern Yosemite Mountain Guides website, Nugue is quoted saying, “Nothing is more appealing to me than being in the outdoors with great company. I’m always looking forward to my next great adventure. Care to join me?”