Colorado city leader dies after collapsing on mountain hike: 'Loss for our city'

Englewood Mayor Pro Tem Dies After Collapsing on Quandary Peak

A Colorado city council member and pastor died Friday morning after collapsing while hiking one of the state's most popular fourteeners, authorities said.

Joe Anderson, 45, served as Mayor Pro Tem of Englewood, a suburb south of Denver. He was found unresponsive on the lower slopes of Quandary Peak, a 14,271-foot mountain in Summit County that draws thousands of hikers each year as the tallest summit in the Tenmile Range.

Summit County Sheriff's deputies were called to the trail around 6:45 a.m. after reports of a hiker who had lost consciousness and was not breathing. Other hikers on the mountain performed CPR until first responders arrived and took over, according to Sgt. Mike Schilling of the Summit County Sheriff's Office. Anderson was pronounced dead at the scene. An official cause of death has not been determined.

The loss left Englewood's elected leadership and city staff reeling. Mayor Othoniel Sierra issued a statement expressing shock and grief.

"We are all shocked and saddened at the sudden passing of our friend and council member, Joe Anderson," Sierra said. "Joe was always there to lend a hand, whether it was in his role as friend, neighbor, pastor or council member. This is a tremendous loss for our city and our heart goes out to his family and friends during this time of loss."

Anderson was first elected to represent District 3 on the Englewood City Council in 2019 and won a second four-year term in 2023. His colleagues chose him to serve as mayor pro tem that December. His policy work centered on homelessness, affordable housing, infrastructure, economic development, and pedestrian and bicycle safety.

Before entering elected office, Anderson served in pastoral roles at local churches. He was a co-founder of Change the Trend, a coalition focused on homelessness in the region, and spent years organizing a community service project that helped seniors and people with disabilities with home repairs. After devastating flooding struck Englewood in 2018, Anderson helped lead the council's response, pushing the city to repair and expand its aging stormwater system while keeping costs manageable for residents and businesses. He also backed zoning and regulatory changes intended to bring down housing costs and reduce homelessness, including streamlined development rules and allowances for smaller housing units.

Outgoing City Manager Shawn Lewis described Anderson as both a steady supporter of city staff and a relentless push for improvement. Lewis called Anderson "one of the most effective, productive and positive council members I've ever worked with," and recalled that during the COVID-19 pandemic, Anderson offered to pray for him when Lewis's parents were hospitalized. "He cared for me and other staff members as people," Lewis said. "I'll never forget the kindness and care he showed to me and I know so many others throughout his time on council."