This is about an Evergreen friend. A thinker. A philosopher.

He wasn’t formally trained that way. He was trained as a doctor. A lung doctor. Which is what’s so ironic. Three years ago he was diagnosed with lung cancer. Unjust, for a man who spent most of his life at Lutheran Hospital and saved others from the disease. And never once put tobacco between his own lips. Lung cancer usually comes from smoking, but not always. Not for Dr. Dennis Clifford.

I never smoked cigarettes myself but despite my wife’s warnings that cigars are even more poisonous, occasionally on working trips overseas I smoked them. Until the night I got home from a rough trip to the Middle East. We went out to eat at Tuscany Tavern and just as I was sheepishly saying that my only treats on the trip were Cuban cigars, Denny walked in. When he came over to say hello, my wife told him what I’d just told her. This tall, bearded, cerebral man looked down at me and said seven simple words: “I thought you were smarter than that.” They didn’t come from a book. They came from his heart. I never touched another cigar.

When Denny began to die, he began to write. About life. And about death. He posted dozens of engrossing essays, tens of thousands of words, on a website called CaringBridge.org. It’s a place where people share stories, whether spirited or sad, about their health.

12/24/1926-5/21/2017

John David Anderson died peacefully on Sunday, May 21st, attended by his wife. Andy was born on Christmas Eve to William E. Anderson, an agricultural chemist, and Norma C. Anderson, a social worker. He grew up in New England.

During WWII, he trained as a Navy pilot and attended St. Mary's and Trinity Colleges. After the war, he attended Harvard, graduating in 1949 and obtaining a Masters from the Harvard Graduate School of Design in 1952. But more importantly, he married Florence Van Dyke ("Flodie"). He and Flodie then went west, driving their car "Horrors" to Denver, where the fast-growing city presented both architectural opportunities and a place to raise a family with a fabulous mountain backdrop.

In 1960 he struck out on his own, founding Anderson Architects, and began to design buildings around the mountain West. The firm eventually became Anderson Mason Dale in the early 1980s.

A strong proponent of energy conservation and sustainable design (even prior to the coining of the phrase), his firm designed Front Range Community College, the largest solar-heated building in the world (at the time) in the early 1970s.

He appeared as a lecturer and panelist on sustainable building design throughout the United States and in the United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, and Finland. He was also a delegate to the World Energy Congress in New Delhi in 1983.

Andy was the long-time chair of the Lower Downtown (LoDo) Design Review Board, overseeing the renewal of this historic district in which his office was embedded, a block from Union Station. For over 40 years, he was a leader in the architectural community both locally and nationally. He advocated inclusivity in the profession, supporting women in architecture, and leading by example.

He became a fellow of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) in 1980, was awarded the AIA Western Mountain Region's Silver Medal in 1984 and was named AIA Colorado Architect of the Year in 1987. In 2001, Andy was elected President of the AIA, and traveled extensively advocating for sustainable design and modernizing the role of architects in society.

Andy and Flodie forged a remarkable partnership over 66 years of marriage. Flodie supported the firm as secretary in the early years. Through the League of Women Voters, she became involved in transportation issues in Denver and Colorado. In 2004, Andy and Flodie jointly received the Dana Crawford Award for Excellence in Historic Preservation. They traveled to global destinations but were most proud of climbing all of Colorado's 14ers together. The feat culminated with a climb of Capitol Peak in 1990 in the company of family and friends.  Their collaboration and lifetime partnership in all things is a model to all who knew them.

Andy is survived by Flodie, their two sons Robert (Suzanne) and David (Nanon), four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. All will miss him dearly for his humility, gentle humor, and his clear-eyed support. He was a gentleman in all ways, a model human being. Andy himself summed it best recently, raising his baseball cap and stating, "it's been a wonderful life".

His life will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 31st. A service at Park Hill Congregational Church, 2600 Leyden St., Denver 80207 (one of his first buildings) begins at 1 pm for his family, co-workers, and friends. This will be followed by an informal public reception at the Denver Botanical Gardens from 3:30-6:30 pm, where all are encouraged to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest contributions to the Architectural Education Foundation AIA Colorado (AEF) (specify the John Anderson Scholarship), or a favorite charity.

Gavin Arneson of Clear Creek High School was singled out from 26,000 applicants nationwide to receive the National Honor Society Scholarship April 27, 2017.  His picture graced the front page of the The Denver Post on Sunday, May 14th, labeled "from bottom to top."

Not only will Gavin graduate as valedictorian of his class later this month, but he's risen to the top in so many ways, including community service and leadership roles on the student council and with service clubs.  His integrity and respect are often cited when people talk about him.

But what makes this a real story is that Gavin was homeless twice in his 18 years, dealing with his parents' alcoholism.  He and a brother lived with his mother in a homeless shelter in Nebraska for awhile; six years ago they moved in with their father near St. Mary's Glacier.  

Determined not to become a homeless boy who would grow up to be a homeless person, Gavin applied himself at school and became involved in numerous extra-curricular activities, channeling his energy into helping others.

Ellece King Murphy passed away in her sleep at her home on March 12, 2017, in Highlands Ranch at the age of 96.

Ellece was born November 7, 1920 in Techumseh, Oklahoma to Beth LaRoe and Olive McQuiston King. The family moved to Evergreen in 1934.

While working at the phone company in downtown Evergreen, Ellece met handsome Army Air Corps Cadet James H. Murphy and they were married in the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration by Canon Charles Winifred Douglas on February 1, 1940.

The war years found them stationed around the U.S. while daughters Patty and Marilyn (MaryBeth) were born. Jim was frequently gone to serve in combat as a Bombardier Squadron Commander. After the war, the family returned to Colorado. Nextdoor to her father’s hardware store in downtown Evergreen, Ellece and Beth started the King-Murphy Realty Company, and Jim set up his Law Practice.

With her father, Ellece purchased and developed the Circle K Ranch Homesites in Upper Bear Creek, where they built their family homes. Son Jimy arrived and as the family grew, Ellece’s business thrived through her business acumen. Jim was elected Clear Creek County Judge in 1956.

With a small group of fellow enthusiasts, the Murphys co-founded the Evergreen Players in 1950. In 1968 Ellece was instrumental in the conversion of the church where she and Jim had married into “The Little Log Theatre” where the Evergreen Players produced several plays every year until 1993, dozens of them directed by Ellece and almost always including her husband, children and grandchildren. Over the years, the Players became the premier amateur theatre group in Colorado.

In 1980, faced with a crisis in the community, the family donated land for what would become the King-Murphy Elementary School, named after them.

Ellece served as a member of the Clear Creek Planning Commission, as head of Clear Creek County Democrats and ran for County Commissioner. She was an activist for working people and causes she believed in all her life.

After the great blizzard of 2003, Ellece moved to Grand Junction to live with daughter Marilyn. Last year, they moved back to the front range to be near family.

She is survived by her children, Patty Murphy of Las Vegas, Marilyn Allen of Highlands Ranch and Jimy (Delinda) Murphy of Evergreen, nephews Paul (Jan) King and David (Martha) King, grandchildren Patricia (Darrel) Wilson, Kari Beth (Derek) Luedtke, Lynley (Raul) Valles, Kristin (Chip) Conway, Anna (Mitesh) Murphy-Master, Jimier Murphy and Mystery (Eli) Murphy – as well as 12 great-grandchildren and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Ellece’s life will be held Saturday, March 25 at 3 PM at the King-Murphy School, Circle K Ranch Road, Evergreen CO 80439. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to King-Murphy PTA.