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Andy Dennison/ Lama Konchog
Andy Dennison/ Lama Konchog October 7, 1934 – February 28, 2021 By Catherine Lykken and Molly McClure
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Pete Seeger wrote a song based on Ecclesiastes 3: To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die…
Oldest son of Lucille and C.A. Dennison, Sr., Andy spent his childhood in Birmingham, MI, exploring and adventuring in the woods, reportedly skipping school for months at a time.
He graduated from Colorado School of Mines in 1956 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering, and worked for Gulf Oil just long enough to know it wasn’t for him. To fulfill his military obligation, he joined the Army and was stationed at Dugway Proving Ground, an NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) Base. Exposure to nuclear fallout led to an early medical discharge.
In the early 60s, Andy was working the reception desk at Arapahoe Basin and joined the Volunteer Ski Patrol. Before long he gravitated to Steamboat Springs where he found a home and lifelong friends at The Barn in Strawberry Park.
Andy always had a caring way with youth. Soon he was teaching at The Lowell Whiteman School. The “demanding” job description included leading foreign trips, one being an expedition to Everest base camp in the Himalayas.
Andy returned to Nepal many times. There on mountain paths he encountered the Sherpa folk and observed the light in their eyes, their presence and sense of contentment and joy. Thus were planted the seeds of Buddhism. Alternating with the Nepal treks were adventures back in the U.S. — hiking, climbing, ski touring (yes, overnights in snow caves) and river running.
Photo, courtesy Lynn Eggleston
From Paul Stettner: It’s been over 50 years, but as I recall,
“Captain” Andy initiated our river adventures when he advised some of us that 1969 was the 100th anniversary of the exploration of the Grand Canyon by boat led by Major John Wesley Powell and, by the way, that he, Andy, had just bought 4 Army surplus “J-tube” pontoons. Given that information and his prodding what else could we do?
We built raft frames using rough cut beetle-kill pine from Maijala Brothers sawmill in Yampa. Frames were sized according to the dimensions of cases of beer. Our 2 homemade rafts were launched on the Yampa River in Lily Park. Side canyon hikes were special. Some ended in daylight, but just as often after dark. Six weeks and about 600 miles later after running the Grand Canyon, the rafts were deflated and loaded on a seriously overloaded truck at Diamond Creek, AZ, for the return to Steamboat Springs. There the first stoplight had been installed at 7th and Lincoln.
Andy’s focus on rivers was year round. One winter he learned that the Yampa River through Dinosaur had frozen. So 6 of us geared up, skied down into Echo Park and then upriver some days to Lily Park.
Meanwhile Nepal beckoned. There Andy immersed himself in the mountain culture, strengthening ties with a Sherpa family in Namche Bazaar whom he had adopted on previous trips. Through this family Andy was introduced to Trulsik Rinpoche, early teacher of the young Dalai Lama in Tibet, both of whom escaped to Nepal in the 50s. Rinpoche established Tübten Chöling Monastery high in the mountains above Junbesi, a beautiful village where a branch of Andy’s family resides.
Wayne Kakela/ by Leslie Lovejoy - 2006
In a letter Andy wrote: An enlightening experience was with Trulsik Rinpoche at the monastery and he set me seriously on the Dharma Path. Andy became his disciple. He took the vows of a monk and was given the name Ngawan Konchog. He shaved his head (not his beard) and donned the maroon and saffron robes. Later he earned the title of Lama for his knowledge and teachings of a very rare Naga Practice. The Nagas are Protectors of the Natural World.
Visa requirements and climate made it necessary to exit Nepal from time to time. Andy would go to Thailand to the beaches, and also to Bangkok where “son” Travis Canon, former Whiteman School graduate, resides with his family. They made an annual ritual of watching the Super Bowl together. Andy did try married domestic life for awhile, but Nepal always called and he would go.
Though he continued to call Nepal home, he established residence in Crestone, CO and frequented Iron Knot Ranch, a Buddhist Retreat Center in NM. Wherever he was he would do his walking meditation and practice. Well into his 80s Andy could outwalk most people half his age.
In Tibetan Buddhism giving up attachments is part of the Path. Over time, Andy gave up beer, meat, teeth and technology. After the death of his soul mate Wayne Kakela, Andy, to absolve Wayne for past hunting kills, went around to all the fishing stores and bought up all their worms, then released them into the family compost.
Andy/Lama Konchog died surrounded by monks from the White Monastery of Boudanath, Kathmandu. Cremation and accompanying ceremonies, with the full fire Puja, took place at a sacred site. The small gathering included three members of Lama Konchog’s Sherpa family, who said Andy had always wanted to die in Nepal.
Andy is survived by his brother George Dennison, niece Molly Czyzyk (Jeremy) and her son Liam Ball; also by Travis Canon of Bangkok.
A recent letter from Nawang Chegen Lama:
“He was famous as Andy Gaga (old man) or Baje (grandfather) among our family. We will always remember him and cherish his moment with us. He has been a brother to my Mom and Uncle to me. May Lama Konchog’s soul rest in a beautiful place.
To recognize Andy’s love of the Yampa River, contributions may be made for The Mandala on the Yampa Project, Bud Werner Library, 1289 Lincoln Ave. Steamboat Springs, CO 80487, in memory of Lama Konchog; or Friends of the Yampa Education Fund, Box 771654, Steamboat Springs CO 80477.
