Sara Sandstrom, Peak to Peak. Greatly admired. Respected. Beloved. Endearing. Legends. These are all words we think of when we remember those who have died in 2020. There are names that are familiar to many people like Sean Connery, Charlie Pride, Chadwick Boseman, Representative John Lewis, Kenny Rogers, Kobe Bryant and Alex Trebek. These are people who have educated us, spoken up for the common person, made strides for equality and have entertained us.
Then, there are those in our own community who have died in 2020. People who have touched our lives with their love and friendship. They were our neighbors, our friends and one of our legendary miners.
April 30, 1949 – January 6, 2020. Tom Hendricks a beloved father, husband, uncle, friend and miner who spent his life looking for treasure. He received numerous awards throughout his life for his skills, passion and love for mining. He was the best of the Nederland community, always willing to lend a hand and touched so many of our lives with his contagious smile and joy for life. Miner Tom was a very kind man. The Nederland area and the mining community lost part of its soul when he died. He was a man none of us will soon forget.
March 8, 1951 – February 16, 2020. Steve grew up in Boulder and was a longtime resident of Pinecliffe. He was known as a Renaissance Man to those who knew and loved him. He cared greatly for the environment and loved to hike in the mountains in the area. Steve loved photography, spirituality, wildlife and yoga. His joy and love for the earth and those he loved is greatly missed.
November 21, 1956 – February 18, 2020. Mindy was born and raised in Queens, New York. She lived in Gilpin county for many years. Mindy loved photography and music and attended school for photography. She owned an old time photo studio in Central City for about 10 years.
Patty was an integral part of the Ward community. She served as town clerk and was a volunteer firefighter. She was a town historian and worked hard to get the funding to save the historical Ward church. Patty’s life was full of adventure and fun. She lived her life fully and her friends, family and the Ward community are forever changed by her purpose to help those around her.
June 27, 1969 – March 18, 2020. David believed in living the best life possible and being the best person you can be. Born in Georgia David lived in Colorado for many years. He loved driving his Harley across the country. David was a teacher, friend and mentor to so many.
December 9, 1977 – March 28, 2020. Melinda lived in the Nederland area for 20 years. She was employed as the Deputy Town Clerk in Nederland and loved her work. She loved animals, cooking and live music. Melinda is remembered for being the fun, outgoing and loving woman that she was.
October 24, 1959 – April 7, 2020. Mark was a native Coloradan. He was a Rollinsville resident for many years. Marko was a talented stone mason and artist. He was also a singer and songwriter. He will always be remembered by his family and friends for his boisterous laugh and his ability to persevere.
April 1945 – April 13, 2020. Tom was a devoted father and caring friend. He lived in Nederland for over 40 years. Tom was an educator, skier, outdoorsman, singer and lover of the arts. His last years were happily spent at Boulder Manor where he was a pillar of the community.
July 2, 1949 – April 25, 2020. Vicky was born in Idaho. She lived in Wyoming, New Mexico, California as well as Greeley and Black Hawk, Colorado. She was an artist and worked in many different formats including acrylic, watercolor, sculpting and more. She painted beautiful landscapes of the places she lived and visited. She shared her love of art with her children and grandchildren.
November 1, 1950 – May 22, 2020. Gary was born in Louisiana. He spent a portion of his adult life living in Rollinsville where he owned the Rollinsville Grocery and Liquor Store. He also worked in the oil business as a logistics engineer. He loved the mountains and the time he spent in Rollinsville.
August 7, 1955 – May 14, 2020. Mark was a longtime resident of Nederland. He was employed at Blue Mountain Arts in Boulder for over 30 years. He loved living in the mountains. Mark enjoyed camping, hiking and exploring State and National Parks.
March 5, 1936 – May 5, 2020. David lived in Nederland for over 40 years. He was known for his philanthropic work. He was actively involved in the community with senior citizens, civic improvements and animal rescue. He offered grants for basic needs and services, education, sports and the arts through the Shortridge Family Foundation, which was in memory of his son David. He made many financial contributions throughout the Peak to Peak area particularly Nederland Middle Senior High School and Nederland Area Seniors Programs.
December 23, 1923 – May 27, 2020. Scientist, author and The Mountain-Ear columnist Clyde Burnett dedicated his life to the science of climate. He was a weather reconnaissance officer with the US military for a time. He dedicated his life to research and teaching at the university level. Clyde lived near Rollinsville and for 33 years worked at the NOAA Fritz Peak Atmospheric Observatory taking measurements of atmospheric hydroxyl, related to the problem of stratospheric ozone. He made us think about the science of global warming and climate change in his column in The Mountain-Ear each month for over five years. His contribution to climate science will be analyzed and studied for years to come.
February 9, 1926 – June 6, 2020. Heinz Berthold Karplus was born in Berlin, Germany. He and his sister escaped Nazi Germany in 1939 on a Kindertransport train to England. He immigrated to the US and lived in Chicago for many years. He then moved to Boulder, Colorado. He was a friend to so many and beloved by his family.
June 22, 2020. Geoff loved his life in the mountains. He had degrees in Counseling Psychology and worked with children and families throughout his career. He witnessed the pain and struggles we face and was dedicated to helping the wounded and vulnerable. He loved his family, friends and adventures in Colorado and beyond.
March 22, 1933 – June 11, 2020. Mary was one of Nederland’s most loyal and endearing citizens. Her grandfather operated a hardware store in Nederland and Mary vacationed here every year of her life. She gifted land to the town and made Nederland a better place, a place she dearly loved. Mary was a huge supporter of the Carousel of Happiness. It is a place she hopes will bring happiness to all who pass through its doors.
December 31, 1974 – September 1, 2020. Loren loved to travel and loved everyone she met along the way. She was a writer, personal trainer, and a substance abuse and wellness counselor. One of her favorite quotes was, “Let the voice of your passion be louder than that of your fears.”
September 6, 2020. Bob was much loved by his friends and family. He along with his wife lived in Old Town Nederland and then to Sugarloaf in the early 1970s. Bob was an athlete and skiing is what he loved. He worked with the University of Colorado ski team and was passionate about the sport. A long time resident of the Nederland area, his warmth and friendship is missed.
September 6, 1945 – October 11, 2020. Dick was a piano man. He played around the country and came to Colorado playing in Denver, Evergreen, Georgetown, Durango and Central City. In Central City he played at the historic Tollgate and Glory Hole Bars. His specialty was playing ragtime music. He recorded much of his music for his fans to enjoy at home. Dick was an extremely talented musician who delighted many with his performances throughout the many years he played.
November 20, 1936 - November 9, 2020. Terry lived much of his adult life in Nederland. His career was spent working at IBM. After retiring in 1995 he moved to Guffey, Colorado, where he passed after a short battle with Covid 19.
March 19, 1953 – 2020. Born in North Dakota, Garrett moved to Colorado as a teenager. He studied at the University of Colorado and spent most of his career as an SAS programmer for CU. He was an avid bicycler and often biked to work from his home in Nederland. He took his bike on vacations to Europe to ride in the Alps and in the UK. He was also a rare book collector and loved his Doberman, Brandy.
January 6, 1941 – December 2, 2020. Donald was an excavating legend in Gilpin County. He started D&J Excavating in 1979. It was truly a family business that was known for honesty, integrity and skill. He retired in 2011. Donald’s mark on the earth will always be known in Gilpin County and the surrounding area.
Cody Allen: May 24, 1991 - December 11, 2020. Shelby Nation Allen February 7, 1993 - December 11, 2020. Cody and Shelby grew up in Gilpin County, met, and then married in 2017. Both were firefighters with the Central City Fire Department and spent their lives helping others.
(Originally published in the December 24, 2020, edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
