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Jacqueline Anne Lothian

Jacqueline Anne Lothian 1947-2014

Jackie Lothian passed away on January 17th at the age of 66. She was born in Chicago, Illinois to Julius Joseph Derucki and Kathleen Marie Kosch. Her grandparents, Anna Siepocinski and Walter Derucki, immigrated from Poland in 1900. She grew up in Chicago and graduated from Kelly High School in 1965, attended the University of Illinois and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She taught art and elementary classes in inner city Chicago Public Schools, was known as Ms. Lothie and was beloved by her students.

She married Ronald Lothian in 1968, and he passed away in 1975. It was time to leave Chicago. She packed up her 1970 Volkswagon Karman Ghia convertible in 1976 and moved to Aspen. She taught arts and crafts at the Aspen Club, and then became an insurance agent with the Aspen Agency.

That’s when she first met the love of her life. She married Lanny Curtis in 1983 and lived happily in Woody Creek ever since. She became very active in Woody Creek politics. Among her achievements, she was a member of the Woody Creek Caucus planning Commission. As a Board Member and Secretary of the Woody Creek Homeowners’ Association, she was instrumental in the creation of the Woody Creek Subdivision. Due to her persistence, we have permanent RFTA bus service in Woody Creek.

Somewhere in between all this, she was a Deputy Clerk for the City of Aspen for 18 years and retired in July 2013. For anyone who had seen that light blue Mustang parked around City Hall; that was hers. She was a member of the Aspen Elks Lodge and chairperson of the Americanism Committee.


Jackie’s talents included painting, calligraphy, creative writing and making jewelry. She had an amazing sense of humor and a terrific smile. Her friends were important to her and she cherished the pictures and good times she shared with all of us. She will be missed.

She is survived by her husband, Lanny Curtis of Woody Creek; brother and sister-in law, Julian (Jay) and Trudy Derucki of Valparaiso, Indiana; nephews Jason and Jeremy Derucki, their wives Kimberly and Janette and their children. She loved her Mother-in law, Loraine Curtis of Long Beach, California.

There will be a celebration of Jackie’s life held at the Elks Lodge near the end of April. Contributions may be sent in Jackie’s name to Community Banks of Colorado, 225 Gold Rivers Court, Suite 140, Basalt, CO 81621.