Obituary: David Guthrie

April 3, 1956 – October 2, 2025

David Hugh Guthrie passed away in Carbondale, Colorado on October 2, 2025.
David’s life was a story of resilience — of finding beauty in the world, even in the face of pain. David never walked past a flower without smelling it, or a mountain view without appreciating it, and never walked by a friend without offering a smile and a warm greeting. To those lucky enough to know him, David embodied what it meant to be a true Aspen local: grounded, genuine, and loyal to his community.
David was born on April 3, 1956, in Corpus Christi, Texas, to Charles and Sylvia Guthrie. As a military family, the Guthries lived in many places. David came to Aspen at age nine and would proudly call Aspen home for the rest of his life. He leaves behind his two daughters, Zoe and Tessa; his former wife, Amy Amidon; his sister, Diann Murphy; nephew David, and the brothers and sisters he found a home with in Aspen among the Sterling family; Whit, Gwyn, Daniel and Sarah. David was preceded in death by his parents, brother Charles (Rocky) and sister Judy.
David’s early life revolved around sports, especially baseball and rugby, which he played for twelve years with the Gentlemen of Aspen, serving for a time as club president. David adored skiing, and could often be spotted on the slopes, his graceful skiing style compared to a dance — even on the steepest runs, he moved with ease and joy.
He earned a degree from Colorado State University in Construction Management and built a long and successful career as a Project Manager, taking great pride in contributing to developments such as the Roaring Fork Club, numerous fine homes in Aspen, and his final job in the conversion of the former Poppie’s Restaurant to affordable housing.
David was passionately involved in the Aspen community. He served on the Aspen Planning and Zoning Commission, was an active member of the Rotary Club of Aspen, Aspen Booster Club, the Aspen Elks Lodge, and he was devoted to the boards of the Aspen Hall of Fame and the Flatirons Chapin Wright Memorial Scholarship Fund. He loved time he spent with friends at Crossroads Church and The Orchard Church.
He approached everything — from work to friendship to fatherhood — with unwavering dedication and heart. Those who knew him remember him as full of humor, sometimes stubborn, and incredibly resourceful, and with a strength that was gentle, enduring, and deeply human.
He will be profoundly missed by the many people whose lives he touched, but his legacy as a true Aspenite will live on in the mountains that he loved and the people that he cared for. David laughed loudly, loved deeply, and told his daughters every day, no matter the weather, “Get outside — it’s the best day of the year.”
A celebration of David’s life will be held at a later date. For those wishing to honor David contributions to The Alzheimer’s Association, http://www.alz.org, are suggested.