Cynthia Diane Chambers, Peak to Peak. Two beloved mountain residents perished in a head on collision last Thursday, July 18, 2019. The accident involved Nicholas “Maus” Simon Polashek, age 37, and Erin Groves, age 32. The incident occurred a few miles outside Kremmling, on Hwy 40. Details of the accident are still under investigation. Both Polashek and Grove passed away at the scene.
Maus, as he was known by locals, friends and fellow musicians, was a longtime resident of Colorado. He attended Naropa University in Boulder and graduated in 2004. News of his loss has left the community in both shock and sadness. Maus was a well-known and respected musician throughout the local music scene. With unmatched talent as a stellar saxophone player, Maus combined his skill with a soulful ability to deliver funk in a way only some are able to master. He was often referred to by friends as a “Gentle Giant,” a man of great stature with a heart of gold. Loved ones and friends have continued to share photos and messages of grief across his social media since news of the accident spread. There will be a private celebration of life held in his honor by close family and friends.
Erin Groves lived in Black Hawk at the time of the accident but had also been a well-known resident of Nederland. She was an accomplished artist and craftswoman, making handmade soaps and other wares, and had been selling them locally for many years. Erin was also a mother and leaves behind a young child. Details have yet to be released but a service is being planned to take place in Boulder, to celebrate Erin’s life. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation of any size be steered to The Women’s Foundation of Colorado at https://www.wfco.org.
(Originally published in the July 25, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
