Edward B. Simonson

Thanksgiving is upon us and there’s so much to be thankful for. However, I’m personally missing something huge, something that’s been with me every other Thanksgiving – my Dad, Ed Simonson.

Regretfully I need to share that he took his last breath on Sept. 27, 2012 at the Valley View Hospital after suffering a massive stroke. Back in the day, he was known as “Fast Eddie” at the ice rink or as the “Molnar Man” on Highlands, in most recent years, he was seen happily wearing his Ambassador uniform on Buttermilk.

Every day was a day to play and enjoy life for him. When he wasn’t skiing, he was shooting pucks at the rink; when the slopes were closed, he was out riding his mountain bike and at the peak of each summer, he’d travel to Seaside Park, N.J. and ride the waves at the shore for a month.

He was such a kid at heart, such a fun person to be around, he just wanted to enjoy every moment and share in this joy with others. I’m grateful for his zest of life and all that he taught me I’m grateful for all of those friends who have shared their stories of how he touched them with the same enthusiastic appreciation of life.

He was a graduate of Rutgers University in 1964, and then completed his law degree at Denver University in 1966. He practiced law in New Jersey and New York before moving out to Aspen in 1969. He continued practicing law in the Roaring Fork Valley through the 1980s and started to really enjoy life in the ’90s when he decided to work even less and play a lot more.

His death was preceded by both his parents, Viola and Paul Simonson; his brother, Jim Simonson; and his daughter, Tara Simonson. He’ll be forever in the hearts of those he left behind: daughter Amy Hepler; niece Linzey Simonson; brother Doug Simonson and sister-in-law Randi Maier.

May he rest in Peace and may we find Peace knowing he is still so close, keeping watch, making sure we’re having fun and seizing each moment in this precious life.

– Amy Hepler