Telluride lost a friend, and the country lost a hero for all time, with the death of Neil Armstrong on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012.
Neil Armstrong was the first man to walk on the moon during the 1969 Apollo 11 mission. His famous words, “That is one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind,” spoken on July 20, 1969, as he became the first person ever to set foot on another planetary body, instantly became a part of history.
Armstrong was an 11-year homeowner in Telluride. An avid lifetime skier and golfer, he discovered Telluride and purchased a home after being grounded in Phoenix during the commercial airline service suspension following the 9/11 World Trade Center attacks. He and his wife, Carol, rented a car, drove to Telluride and embraced Telluride as their second home. He was also a committed board member of the Telluride Foundation.
Armstrong was an American aviator, astronaut, test pilot, aerospace engineer, businessman, university professor, and United States Naval Aviator.
“Neil’s accomplishments, on both this planet and in space, are well known,” said Ron Allred, former owner of Telluride Ski & Golf Resort and co-founder of the Telluride Foundation. “Joyce and I are fortunate to have had Neil as a close personal friend. He was interesting to discuss world issues or philosophy with; he was humorous, competitive and above all a sincerely humble person. Neil was like all of us in Telluride – he understood and embraced the special essence of our community. Telluride will miss Neil Armstrong.”
A private funeral service will be held on Friday, Aug. 31, in Cincinnati. Another service will be held in the near future at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
Neil Armstrong is survived by his wife Carol, two sons, a stepson, a stepdaughter, 10 grandchildren, and a brother and sister.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested contributions be made to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and/or the Telluride Foundation. Donations made to the Telluride Foundation will be designated for the Neil Armstrong Scholarship Fund, providing scholarships to graduating high school seniors in Telluride, as well as rural high schools in the region (Paradox, Nucla, Norwood, Ridgway, and Ouray) pursuing further education in science, technology, engineering or math.
Checks can be mailed to: The Telluride Foundation, 220 E. Colorado Ave., Ste. 106, PO Box 4222, Telluride, CO 81435. Online donations can be made by visiting www.telluridefoundation.org.
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