A recent Sky-Hi News article titled “Florida Man Dies of Natural Causes” referred to a 53 year old man who died Feb. 7 on Rabbit Ears Pass. This man was our dear friend, Tim Pitzen, who visited from Florida quite often.

Tim had been in Colorado for over a week on this particular trip to play in the Rocky Mountains. He had shared some absolutely amazing deep powder days snowmobiling on Rabbit Ears Pass with his riding buddies. Wednesday, Feb.3 , was one of those crazy special deep days. He grinned from ear to ear at the end of the ride that day and told us “that was my best day EVER”. Little did any of us know that this would be his last Wednesday on this great earth. He was a man who laughed in the face of adversity, a man who knew he had some serious medical issues but did not let that keep him from doing what he loved. It was doing just that, on Sunday, Feb. 7, that Tim, while preparing for a snowmobile ride on a sunny Colorado day, tied his riding boots for the last time.

Tim lived life as if each day was going to be his last. He loved snowmobiling and snowboarding in Colorado and would drive across the country from Florida with his snowmobile trailer in tow to ride with his best buddies. He always had a big smile on his face and was always up for a Rabbit Ears ride no matter what the weather was like. His sweet, gentle demeanor and passion for life will forever be remembered by those of us who were lucky enough to know him. Tim, you will “ride on” forever in my heart, you have ‘carved‘ a special spot in my soul. Rest in peace dear friend. You will be missed.