Daniel Robert Ellison
Obituaries
Steamboat Today - October 8, 2015
Dan Ellison, of Loveland, formerly of Steamboat Springs, died following a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s in Ft Collins Saturday, October 3, 2015. A memorial service will be held in Steamboat Springs next Spring.
Steamboat Today - May 26, 2016
Dan Ellison passed away Oct. 3, 2015. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., Saturday, May 28, at the United Methodist Church, Eighth and Oak streets, in Steamboat Springs, with a reception following at the church.
Steamboat Today - October 11, 2015
Dan Ellison was born in Hillsboro, OH to Dr. Robert B. and Clarine Wickerham Ellison. Raised in Peebles, OH his was a life marked by service to his community and country. After graduating from Ohio Wesleyan University in 1964, Dan proudly served in the US Navy as an Air Intelligence Officer.
Upon completion of his military service, Dan settled in Fort Collins, CO and worked for Larimer County. There he met and married Katharine M. “Kitty” Walker. Upon his completion of a Master’s in Public Administration at the University of Colorado, Dan and Kitty moved to Steamboat Springs where he worked for Routt County (Planning and Building Departments) and the Town of Hayden (Town Manager). Dan served from 1995 to 2007 as Routt County Commissioner, a job he found equally challenging and rewarding. Additionally, Dan was an active member of the United Methodist Church, Steamboat Springs Kiwanis Club (serving twice as President and one term as Lieutenant Governor), Routt County Habitat for Humanity, and many State and Regional boards.
Dan was proudest of his?two daughters, Katharine Jean “Jenny” and Mary Clarine “Clare”, actively following their every achievement in debate and on the soccer field. He taught them to keep a baseball box score, to change a tire, and how to give a firm handshake.
Predeceased by his parents and his sister, Mary Lou Davis, Dan is survived by his wife?of 40 years, Kitty; his daughters Jenny and Clare (Scott Sinclair), and his three grandchildren: Miles and Emerson Heilner, and Daniel Sinclair, as well as numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, in-laws, and friends.
A memorial service will be held in Steamboat Springs next Spring. In lieu of flowers, a contribution is suggested in Dan’s memory to The Alzheimer’s Association, Larimer County Chapter, 415 Peterson Street, Ft Collins, CO 80524?or to Ohio Wesleyan University, Mowry Alumni Center, 61 South Sandusky Street, Delaware, OH 43015.
Steamboat Today - October 7, 2015
Steamboat Springs — Former three-term Routt County commissioner and Hayden town manager Dan Ellison died Oct. 3 from complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. He was 73.
Doug Monger, current chairman of the Routt County Board of Commissioners, said Wednesday a significant part of Ellison’s legacy will be the work he did on the creation of important planning tools still used to preserve open space and traditional agricultural practices.
With former county commissioners Nancy Stahoviak and Ben Beall, Ellison helped to advance the county’s Land Preservation Subdivision ordinance, which incentivizes developers to cluster homes within rural subdivisions, leaving hay meadows intact. In addition, Ellison helped put the Purchase of Development Rights tax before voters — who embraced it — as a way to put permanent conservation easements in place on ag lands.
Beall said Wednesday Ellison helped to prevent urban sprawl in the county and to protect viewscapes.
“We were able to work together coming from different positions in setting urban growth boundaries for our municipalities and skyline regulations, among many of the important land-use decisions of the booming late 1990’s,” he said.
Stahoviak praised Ellison for his thoughtful approach to policy making.
“He had great ideas and a diverse background in energy development, public administrating and (county) planning,” Stahoviak said. “The thing about Dan was, he’d listen a lot, and when he opened his mouth to say something, you’d know it was important.”
Beall said Ellison understood government and its relevance to a well-functioning society.
“Dan was a fiscal conservative but understood the importance of land-use planning and the importance of directing growth to our municipal areas,” he said.
Ellison informed the Routt County Republican Party in December 2005, well in advance of the 2006 elections, he would not seek a fourth four-year term in District 3 (comprising primarily the city of Steamboat Springs). His tenure on the Board of County Commissioners began in 1995.
“It’s been enjoyable, but there comes a time when you’re ready to leave,” Ellison told the Steamboat Pilot at the time.
Ellison’s career as a public servant spanned well beyond the dozen years spent on the Board of Commissioners.
After a stint beginning in 1969 as zoning administrator in Larimer County, he was hired to become the county’s zoning and planning administrator on Nov. 1, 1975.
In May 1984, Ellison was running his own energy consulting business from an office in Steamboat when he accepted a position as Hayden’s part-time (20 hours per week) town manager, earning $425 per week.
A native of Ohio and a Naval veteran of the Vietnam war era, Ellison held a bachelor’s degree in history, and in late summer 1975, earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Colorado. Several months later, upon taking the job with the Routt County Planning Department, Ellison predicted the region would see increased demand for energy development.
“I believe that Routt County should be aware of both the problems and the benefits and find ways in which it can best respond to them,” he told the Steamboat Pilot.
Stahoviak said Ellison also worked hard to support the development of Yampa Valley Regional Airport while looking for ways to lessen the impact of funding the airport on the county’s general fund. But he always kept his perspective.
“Dan had a really laid back style, and one of the things I really liked about Dan was that he had a really dry sense of humor. In politics, and sticky situations, it’s always good to inject a little humor, and Dan was good at that.”
Ellison leaves his wife, Kitty, and two adult daughters, Jenny and Clare, as well as three grandchildren. A memorial service is tentatively planned for spring 2016 in Steamboat.
