An Colorado politician mysteriously died while on a hiking trip.
Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson, 45, was hiking on Quandary Peak at around 6.40am Friday when he suddenly lost consciousness and stopped breathing, according to CBS News.
Other hikers in the area started CPR, and when deputies from the Summit County Sheriff’s Office responded they took over the lifesaving efforts along with medical personnel. But Anderson died at the scene.
His death was later confirmed by city officials, who described Anderson as someone who was always available to lend a hand, whether as a friend, neighbor, pastor or as an elected official.
He had advocated for the homeless with his work on Change the Trend, a nonprofit he helped found that would eventually lay the groundwork for what became the Tri Cities Homelessness Policy Committee, Mayor Othoniel Sierra noted.
Anderson also helped seniors and disabled neighbors with home repairs through his Neighborhood Rehab Project.
‘That compassion carried over to his seven years on council,’ Sierra said in a statement.
‘This is a tremendous loss for our city and our heart goes out to his family and friends during this time of loss.’
Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson, 45, died on Friday morning while on a hiking trip
An online fundraiser has been set up to support his wife and two children
Summit County Sheriff’s deputies said they received a call about a hiker who lost consciousness and was not breathing on the slopes of Quandary Peak Friday morning
Anderson had first been elected to represent District 3 on the Englewood City Council in 2019 and was re-elected in November 2023. One month later, the city council voted him in as mayor pro tem.
During his tenure on the city council, Anderson helped guide efforts to repair and expand Englewood’s aging stormwater system after deadly flooding in 2018 and pushed the city to balance the cost of those improvements with what businesses and residents could afford.
Anderson also supported changes to the city’s development rules aimed at lowering housing costs and homelessness, including streamlined regulations and smaller housing units.
Outgoing City Manager Shawn Lewis said Anderson ‘was this rare combination of a constant encourager behind the scenes while simultaneously challenging us as staff to think bigger and do better.’
He went on to call the Mayor Pro Tem ‘one of the most effective, productive and positive council members I’ve ever worked with,’ recounting how Anderson offered to pray for him when his parents were hospitalized during the COVID pandemic.
‘He cared for me and other staff members as people,’ Lewis said. ‘I’ll never forget the kindness and care he showed to me, and I know so many others throughout his time on the council.’
An online fundraiser has now been set up to support Anderson’s wife and children.
‘Joe left behind a legendary legacy, and this page is a small way for us to support his wife, Becca Anderson, and children during this difficult time,’ it reads.
As of Sunday evening, it had raised nearly $67,000 for the family.
