Dana William Andersen

Dana William Andersen (Shines) lived a life full of love, adventure, and fun. He passed away on June 1, 2016, at home, surrounded by his family, from heart failure. Dana was the son of Frank and Ruth Andersen, born on January 1, 1929, in Swampscott, MA. He graduated from Salem High School, enlisted in the U.S. Navy for two years, and then graduated from Colby College, in Waterville, ME, in 1955. He was the captain of the college ski team, and won many jumping meets and ski races. As an additional adventure he dabbled in racing an Austin Healey.

He married his college sweetheart, Gwen Andersen, whom he met under a ski jump, on July 24, 1954, and they had an amazing 62 years together. Dana worked as Western Advertising Manager for Skiing Magazine for 30 years, which enabled them to travel to several winter Olympics and ski races both in the U.S. and in Europe and Japan.

The loves of his life were his wonderful family. He was blessed to have 5 beautiful children, and they did many family activities and excursions together. Among them were countless ski trips and boating experiences at Lake McConaughy.

Dana was a very strong and athletic man. He was a beautiful, graceful skier, and he and his wife and family skied extensively. He loved golf, and was president of Boulder Country Club in 1991. His most cherished hobby was boating. He learned sailing and seamanship during his early years, crewing on friends’ racing boats in Marblehead, MA.

In 1981, he and his wife bought their first cabin cruiser, and spent many wonderful summers at Lake McConaughy and Horsetooth Reservoir. They also towed the boat to Lake Powell, Florida and Texas, and spent many adventurous weeks, exploring those areas. In addition to power boating they chartered sail boats eighteen times to the Bahamas, the British Virgin Islands, and sailed down island in the Caribbean almost to South America, mostly just the two of them!

He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Frank Richard Andersen, and his daughter Anna Lisa Andersen.

Dana is survived by his wife, Gwen, of Boulder, and his four children: Kristin (Blaine, Kendra and Morgan), Sheika, Bud (Shelby), and Lance (Hannah, Ben and Christopher). In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the First Presbyterian Church, 1820 15th St Boulder, CO 80302.

A memorial service for Dana will be held on Friday, June 24, 2016, at 2PM at the First Presbyterian Church in Boulder. Arrangements under the direction of Crist Mortuary, Boulder, CO.