Craig Gordon Vogel

It is with immense sadness that the family of Craig Gordon Vogel of Highlands Ranch, CO, announces his passing. Craig passed away suddenly on May 29, 2023, at the age of 76, from an unexpected illness, surrounded by his loving family.

Craig grew up in Chicopee Falls, MA, spending summers with his family at Otis Reservoir. He was a graduate of Chicopee High School and Norwich University in Vermont, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering and was a member of the university’s ski team.

Following college, he worked for a range of engineering firms including Pratt & Whitney, R. W. Beck, Inc., and Cyprus Minerals Company. In 1998, Craig proudly established his own environmental energy consulting company, Envergy, Inc., providing assistance and knowledge of innovative gasification, clean coal, and waste-to-energy technology. During his career he wrote many industry-related papers and traveled around the world giving presentations on his findings.

In addition to visiting 49 of the 50 states, Craig had the privilege of traveling to Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, and South America. Among the highlights of his travels was visiting the Elephant Nature Park in Chang Mai, Thailand, sparking his love for elephants and the conservation of endangered species. He was also able to fulfill a lifelong dream of walking the Grand Prix Racecourse in Monaco and watching a prerace practice session, feeding his love of F1 racing.

A passion for skiing and love for the Rocky Mountains brought him, his first wife Debby, and their daughter Heather to Colorado in 1973. Three years later their second daughter Heidi was born. Craig met his second wife, Katherine, in 1988. They married in 1990 and recently celebrated their 33rd wedding anniversary. They were loving parents to their cats---Emily, Molly, FiFe, and currently Aria and Zoe.

Craig was most passionate about his family. He loved hosting and attending family dinners and gatherings, watching his grandchildren’s activities of baseball, basketball, concerts, recitals, science events, swimming, tennis, track and field, and volleyball. He bought his grandchildren their first bikes and enjoyed taking them for bike rides when babysitting.

An avid skier, Craig learned to ski at an early age with his family at Springfield Ski Club in Blandford, MA. He became a 25-year member of the volunteer ski patrol at Winter Park Resort in Colorado where he skied on a weekly basis during each winter season. Taking care of himself with daily exercise was a must and kept him active and healthy throughout his life. Craig was a member of the Colorado Athletic Club since September 1983, being one of the club’s original members. He attended various classes from yoga to weightlifting regularly. Other interests spanned from animals and nature, to food, music, and cars.

Craig was predeceased by his parents, Roland and Barbara Vogel, and sister-in-law Mary Earl. He is survived by his wife, Katherine Lupe Vogel; daughter, Heather Carroll, her husband Ward, and their children Emma, Margaret, and William of Centennial, CO; daughter Heidi Andersen, her husband Eric, and their children Stella and Olivia (Livi) of Corvallis, OR; brothers, Eric Vogel and his wife Karen, and Gary Vogel; sister, Karen Hayter; nieces and nephews, Erica, Tami, Brian, Star, and Justyn.

In remembrance of Craig’s life and in lieu of flowers, the family asks that charitable donations be made to Denver Dumb Friends League ( https://www.ddfl.org/donation-center ) or Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado ( https://secure2.wish.org/site/SPageServer?pagename=donate_today&chid=100-000 ).

A celebration of life will be held later this summer.