George Bostwick Beardsley ’59
George Bostwick Beardsley ’59 passed away on August 8 after a months-long battle with cancer. At Dartmouth George was a member of Theta Delta Chi, where he was rushing chairman, and Dragon. He was a four-year member of the Newman Club and DOC. Having grown up in Colorado Springs, Colorado, he applied his skiing skills on the ski team and the ski patrol. George received a master’s in city planning at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. After Dartmouth George had a distinguished career in city planning and commercial development including Vail and Cooper Mountain, Colorado, and Waterville Valley, New Hampshire, ski areas. Bill “Moose” Morton ’59 remembers George as “a remarkable man—a brilliant leader, strong, disciplined and a creative force, with a contagious enthusiasm and sharp sense of humor.” George was instrumental in the formation and governance of many nonprofit environmental and quasi-government entities. He served on governing boards ranging from academic institutions to art, civic and nature conservancy. A devoted advocate of environmental conservation and open space, George helped to found Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund, Colorado Conservation Trust and Colorado Open Lands. In 1998 Colorado Open Lands awarded him the Cranmer Award, which recognizes accomplishments through determination and force of personality. The organization permanently protects more than 225,000 acres of open space. The award is located at Cranmer Park in Lyons, Colorado, to symbolize “vision, courage and leadership.” His wife of 51 years, Pam, four children and eight grandchildren survive him.
