Colorado city leader dies after collapsing on 14,000-foot mountain hike

A Colorado city leader died Friday after collapsing while hiking a popular 14,000-foot mountain, authorities said. Fellow hikers attempted to revive him before first responders arrived.

What we know:

Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Joe Anderson, 45, was hiking Quandary Peak in Summit County when he died Friday morning, city and county officials said.

Summit County sheriff’s deputies were called around 6:45 a.m. for a report that a hiker had collapsed and was not breathing on the lower slopes of Quandary Peak, according to the Summit Daily. The mountain rises 14,271 feet and is the highest summit in Colorado’s Tenmile Range in the Rocky Mountains.

RELATED: Colorado police officer uses body cam to communicate in Mandarin in traffic stop

Other hikers began CPR before first responders arrived and continued lifesaving efforts, Sgt. Mike Schilling told the outlet.

What we don't know:

Anderson’s official cause of death has not been determined.

What they're saying:

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

"Joe was always there to lend a hand, whether it was in his role as friend, neighbor, pastor or council member," Sierra said. "This is a tremendous loss for our city and our heart goes out to his family and friends during this time of loss."

The backstory:

Anderson began representing District 3 on the Englewood City Council after his 2019 election and secured a second four-year term in 2023. Council members selected him as mayor pro tem in December of that year.

RELATED: Family killer Chris Watts seeks prison marriage with new love interest: report

Before joining the council, Anderson held pastoral positions at local churches and helped establish Change the Trend, a coalition addressing homelessness. He also coordinated a long-running community service project that provided home repairs for seniors and people with disabilities.

During his time on the council, Anderson worked on issues including homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

He helped lead work to repair and expand Englewood’s aging stormwater system after fatal flooding in 2018. He also advocated for balancing the cost of those improvements against what local residents and businesses could afford.

Anderson backed changes to the city’s development rules intended to reduce housing costs and homelessness, including streamlined regulations and smaller housing units.

Outgoing City Manager Shawn Lewis said Anderson regularly supported city employees while urging them to pursue larger goals.

"Mayor Pro Tem Anderson was this rare combination of a constant encourager behind the scenes while simultaneously challenging us as staff to think bigger and do better," Lewis said.

Lewis described Anderson as "one of the most effective, productive and positive council members I’ve ever worked with," and recalled him offering prayers when Lewis’s parents were hospitalized during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"He cared for me and other staff members as people," Lewis said. "I’ll never forget the kindness and care he showed to me and I know so many others throughout his time on council."

Colorado