FEBRUARY 2010 Page 21
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Remembering Ron Robertson By Nancy Chromy, Echo contributor
When Carbondale resident Ron Robertson passed away on Jan. 10, 2010 at age 63, he left behind numerous reminders of his creativity, right here in the Crystal River Valley. Ron grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and went on to graduate from California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in architecture. Ron was in the U.S. Navy Construction Battalion (CB) during the Vietnam War. He moved to Carbondale in 1973. He absolutely loved Carbondale. Recently, he was co-chair of the Carbondale Downtown Preservation Association and influenced its recent streetscape project. Community volunteerism was very important to Ron and he encouraged others to do the same. He was instrumental in the design of the Town of Carbondale sign at Highway 133 and Main Street. Ron served as president of the Colorado Western Slope Architecture Institute of America. Throughout his career, he designed projects from Carbondale to Aspen to the Yampah Valley throughout the Steamboat Springs area, and beyond. He traveled to places including Hawaii, Santa Barbara, Calif. and Oregon to visit family, and to Italy. His office bookshelves were filled with books from Italy. Ron was well known for his sense of humor and his love for music. When a Beatles song came on the radio, everything all but stopped. Ron was a gentle, witty and creative person who loved his friends and family. When I would call him at his office, he would always say “Hey Babe.” He said that to all the girls; Ron was Ron. His personal journey in life and architecture included the Crystal River Valley. He adored this valley. Over the years, Ron worked on numerous architecture design projects in the area. Hired by the Houston, Texas firm that purchased the Redstone Castle in 1999, Ron worked on a design for a spa resort and cabins on the property. Ron also designed the Marble Charter School and Museum remodel and won an award from the Colorado Historical Society. Most recently, Ron designed the Redstone Inn expansion. The River Cabin was completed in 2009 and the Sports Building is next in line. As an architect, Ron was all about the details. But he was more than that. He took his projects personally and held them close to his heart. He made friends with all his clients. He loved driving south on Highway 133 to Redstone to meet with a client or represent a client at a public meeting. Ron was a guy who would walk into a room with a plan, but when you caught his eye he would make you smile or even laugh out loud. Ron was Ron. He will be deeply missed by everyone who knew him, and his architecture will be appreciated for years to come in the Crystal River Valley. He wore his love of architecture on his sleeve. Peace to you Ron.
Donations may be made to Carbondale’s CCAH Capital Campaign for the Center for the Arts, P.O. Box 175, Carbondale, CO 81623.
Photos courtesy of Nancy Chromy