Aspen Hall of Fame announces 2025 inductees
Aspen Hall of Fame/Courtesy photo
The Aspen Hall of Fame has announced its 2025 inductees, honoring Bob and Ruth Wade, Paul Andersen, and Erin Fernandez-Ely for their significant contributions to the Aspen community.
The inductees will be celebrated at the annual Aspen Hall of Fame Banquet, which will take place on April 13, 2025, at the Hotel Jerome. The event will include dinner, wine, and an awards ceremony featuring video profiles of each honoree.
Aspen Hall of Fame co-presidents Pat Bingham and Walker Moriarty expressed their enthusiasm for this year’s selections.
“We received a record number of nominations from the community this year, and we are thrilled to honor these individuals who have contributed so much to our community and made such a lasting impact,” they said in a news release. “We think you will agree that these are the people who make Aspen special.”
Bob and Ruth Wade have been integral to Aspen’s outdoor culture for nearly 50 years.
They have created and supported cherished events like the Golden Leaf Half Marathon, America’s Uphill, and Ski for the Pass. Beyond events, the Wades have been active in nonprofits such as the Independence Pass Foundation and the Chris Klug Foundation.
Their efforts extend to the Aspen School District’s Outdoor Education program, where they have inspired generations through outdoor activities. Additionally, they have hosted an amateur Nordic racing series on meticulously groomed tracks they helped establish.
Andersen has spent 47 years as a professional writer, authoring 18 books and hundreds of articles. For 40 of those years, he contributed to The Aspen Times as a reporter, editor, and columnist.
Beyond journalism, Andersen co-created the Aspen Institute seminar “Nature & Society,” which combined wilderness experiences with discussions on philosophical and ecological topics. In 2013, he founded Huts For Vets, a nonprofit offering therapeutic experiences for U.S. military veterans at the 10th Mountain Huts.
Andersen’s passion for Aspen’s natural environment dates back to his first visit in 1966, and he continues to explore the Elk Range on skis, foot, and bike.
Fernandez-Ely moved to Aspen in 1978, transitioning from prosecuting white-collar crime in Florida to practicing law locally with attorney and former Pitkin County Commissioner Dwight Shellman.
Appointed as Pitkin County Judge in 2000, she served for two decades, pioneering innovative partnerships with mental health professionals, law enforcement, and the judiciary. Known as the “people’s judge,” Fernandez-Ely emphasized rehabilitation over incarceration, implementing programs that required counseling and monitored sobriety for misdemeanor offenders.
Her work offered many individuals a second chance and set a precedent for humane judicial practices.
The banquet at the Hotel Jerome will feature video profiles of the inductees, which will later be archived on the Aspen Hall of Fame website, the Aspen Historical Society, and the Pitkin County Library.
Since its inception in 1986, the Aspen Hall of Fame has honored more than 100 individuals for their contributions to civic life, culture, sports, and philanthropy in Aspen. The organization relies on donations to fund its operations, including the production of documentary videos and keeping banquet attendance accessible to all.
Invitations for the 2025 banquet will be mailed in late February or early March. Community members interested in attending or supporting the Hall of Fame can sign up for the mailing list or donate to aspenhalloffame.org.
