Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Dies While Hiking Colorado Mountain

A city leader from Colorado tragically passed away Friday after collapsing on a well-known 14,000-foot peak, prompting fellow hikers to attempt resuscitation until paramedics arrived, according to officials.

Joe Anderson, the Mayor Pro Tem of Englewood, was just 45 when he died that morning while hiking Quandary Peak in Summit County, as confirmed by local authorities.

Summit County sheriff’s deputies were alerted around 6:45 a.m. about a hiker who had lost consciousness and was unresponsive on the lower slopes of Quandary Peak, which stands at 14,271 feet—the highest point in Colorado’s Tenmile Range and part of the Rocky Mountains.

Other hikers administered CPR before emergency responders took over the lifesaving efforts, noted Sgt. Mike Schilling.

The official cause of Anderson’s death has not yet been established.

“We are all shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of our friend and council member, Joe Anderson,” said Englewood Mayor Othoniel Sierra in a statement.

Sierra elaborated, stating, “Joe was always ready to lend a hand, whether as a friend, neighbor, pastor, or council member. This is a tremendous loss for our city, and our heart goes out to his family and friends during this difficult time.”

Anderson had been elected to represent District 3 on the Englewood City Council in 2019 and had just secured a second four-year term in 2023. He was appointed mayor pro tem that December.

Before his years in office, Anderson played significant roles in local churches and was a founding member of Change the Trend, a coalition aiming to address homelessness. He also dedicated years to a community service project that aided seniors and individuals with disabilities in home repairs.

On the council, he tackled important issues like homelessness, affordable housing, and infrastructure, working diligently for community safety, particularly for pedestrians and cyclists. He was instrumental in the efforts to update and enhance Englewood’s aging stormwater system following a disastrous flooding incident in 2018, all while considering the financial burdens of residents and businesses.

Outgoing City Manager Shawn Lewis remembered Anderson as a unique blend of encouragement and constructive challenge for staff, praising him as “one of the most effective, productive, and positive council members I’ve ever worked with.” He recalled Anderson’s thoughtful gesture of offering prayers during difficult times, such as when Lewis’s parents were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lewis emphasized that Anderson truly cared for his colleagues as individuals, saying, “I’ll never forget the kindness and care he showed to me, as well as many others during his time on council.”