Patrick John Collins

Patrick John Collins, a longtime resident of the Roaring Fork Valley, died Monday, June 2, 2008, at home in Santee, Calif., after a long, courageous battle against lung cancer. Patrick was born on July 12, 1958, in Cold Spring, N.Y., was educated in local schools and attended NYU.

During his time in the valley, Pat demonstrated his talent as a skier/snowboarder; he was a Forest Service ranger and a volunteer firefighter with the Basalt Fire Department. As his interest in photography grew, so did his portfolio, and he opened the Patrick Collins Gallery in Aspen.

Patrick is survived by his wife, Betsy Ton Collins, and son, Max, in Santee, Calif.; parents Jack and Barbara Collins of Basalt, brother, Stephen, of Jupiter, Fla., sister, San Anderson of San Rafael, Calif. He was predeceased by a sister, Ellen, who died in childhood. Pat will be missed by all who knew and loved him. A memorial service will take place in late summer.