- Date Of Birth: June 25, 1935
- Date Of Death: December 4, 2019
- State: Colorado
Donald Elterman, a resident of Fruita, CO, died at Hope West Hospice Care Center in Grand Junction, CO, December 4, 2019. Don was born in Long Beach, California, the son of the late Walter and Eunice (Riley) Elterman of Laguna Beach, CA. Don was a veteran of the US Army, serving from 1958 to 1964, at Sandia Base in Albuquerque, NM. He was employed by Pacific Bell Phone Company in Southern California and later transferred to Mountain Bell in Denver as a facilities planner in the Denver Metro area.
Don loved the outdoor life and was a hiker, a bicycler, and a golfer, but his passion was skiing. He was devoted to his children and was in his glory when he could take them skiing, hiking, backpacking, or camping.
Don was a quiet man and extremely private, not given to small talk and idle chatter, yet was a warm and charming gentleman and remained so even while the devastation of Alzheimer’s-dementia ate away his mind and body. He fought hard to remain vital and active during the last few years of his life and was proud to claim that he would ski beyond the age of 80. He skied for the last time at the age of 82. He lived to achieve his final goal.
Don is survived by his wife of 48 years, Marylin, his sons Douglas Elterman, Kevin Elterman and Mark Elterman, his daughter Karen Polli, and his 5 grandchildren, Chas, Devin, Alex, Courtney, and Annie.
