| Subject: In requiem - a nice tribute by a former mountainbird caretaker |
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danfan
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Date Posted: 19:53:51 05/18/08 Sun
Found this in the Pagosa Springs paper.
In Requiem
Cary Ellis | 12/21/07
I count myself lucky to have fallen into a caretaker position several years ago, for Dan Fogelberg and his wonderful wife Jean at their Mountainbird Ranch near Pagosa. When long time ranch manager George Love got married, they needed someone to be on site during his nights off.
Dan told George he’d like to have a writer there, and George recommended me (despite the fact that I was a “woman with a dog”). I applied, was hired and moved in to one side of the guest-house with my beloved furry gentle giant companion Rama.
It took just a little bit for me to recognize why Dan wanted a writer here in this wild, magnificent high mountain retreat, where he had written much of the music that made him famous. He was an incredibly private person; he needed someone who also sought solitude, would keep to themselves and would help sustain his privacy. Not only had they found the ‘right person for the job’, but this position also provided me an incredible opportunity to move ahead with my own work; Dan’s wife Jean kindly donated her time to graciously build a website for me, and I was paid to “stay home and guard the ranch.”
In the very powerful silence and magic of this place Dan would sequester himself away for months on end, isolated from the world-at-large, tapping into his gifted creativity to bring forth from the cosmos heartfelt reflections on love and life through music and poetry. His home contained a private studio, (built with no square corners for better acoustics – and perhaps to access other realms of sound and space), where he did many of the preliminary recordings of much of what we know today as the extensive works of Dan Fogelberg.
I had no idea until later how many gold and platinum records were awarded him over the thirty-five or so years of his career. A reflective article in the Denver Post conveys respectful observations on Dan’s career.
For one who had attained his level of fame and fortune, his home was modest, graced by simple personal effects and a grand piano. Surrounded by the peace of the immense Rocky Mountain wilderness, he was home, as conveyed in his songs about the mighty San Juans (such as the early album: “Wild Places”).
Early on in his career when he was filling concert halls and abundance was flowing in, he asked his advisors what to do with the money. They told him, “Find a place you love and buy land there. You’ll never regret it.” And so it was. Dan fell in love with Colorado, first the front-range, then found his way to Pagosa and never looked back. It was so representative of his nature that he chose to be far from the more populated and glitzy ski towns to reside in near anonymity.
Dan was lucky later in life to find a true beloved companion in his third wife, Jean. They had much in common and a deep love for one another that seemed to be rooted in the long ago of their souls. I love the story she told me of how they met.
One night in Santa Fe, Dan happened in to the small exclusive restaurant where she was performing; a waiter accosted him, “Sir, I’m sorry, but if you’re not here for dinner you’ll have leave.” Dan told him he’d leave as soon as the song concluded. When Jean finished singing he approached her, saying: “What a fine rendition of that song!” About the song — “Leader of the Band” — she blurted out, “Oh, but the original is so much better." I’m sure she must have been blushing deeply when Dan took her hand to say, “Hello, I’m Dan Fogelberg.”
They dated and talked, discovering they had much in common — a love for classical music and art, a sense of the finer qualities of life. In a way their marriage and years together were like a fairy tale story — she the princess and he her prince. I know Jean will miss him terribly; they were fast friends and very loving companions for at least eight or nine years.
She was a loyal caregiver at his side through his courageous battle with illness — even then he was very private about what he was going through. They courageously faced his last days together as he passed on at his home in Maine (where he loved to sail) at the young age of fifty-six. He was six months older than me, which I consider early for leaving this earth. Yet, who knows the journey of the soul? I trust there is a sort of divine perfection in all such things.
Dan lived an incredible life — perhaps more rich and full than most; hopefully an inspiration to all of us to express our talents (however great or small), to seek our dreams and make them true. He came in with creative abilities, cultivated them, and infused his special brand of magic into the flow of humanity. May we each find the courage to do the same. I would guess that he did what he came to do, and his journey was complete. Perhaps at the end, we will each be able to say that of our walk in this world.
I found several YouTube videos by doing a search online, including one of him singing “Leader of the Band” — a captured moment of his magic as a musician.
There are also wonderful photos and memorabilia at http://www.danfogelberg.com/
Honestly I’ve always lived a little outside the media and never was a ‘fan’ per se (though of course I liked his music). But it was a great privilege to know him and Jean just as the people they were, at home: quiet, retiring and private. I actually had Thanksgiving dinner with them the first year I was caretaker — it was just them and me, Dan cooked most of the dinner and Jean was a gracious hostess. It was an enjoyable occasion I will always remember. Right around that time I also attended the final show of his last concert tour at an outdoor venue near Durango. It was apparent what an incredible and diverse musician he was, seasoned by life and the years of performing.
There are many around Pagosa, who remember contact with Dan over the years — I’ve heard tell in the old days he used to come out and play at what is now the Bear Creek Saloon (then the Adobe). He often did his own grocery shopping and would show up at the market incognito in sunglasses and ball cap hoping not too many would recognize him, and for the better part people respected his privacy. He was also a big supporter of the Humane Society.
Some folks worked up there on his ranch, building, gardening, moving dirt or maintenance. There were legendary parties. Some rode with him — he was an award-winning horseman. Others remember cross-country skiing on the land Dan had bought from the descendants of early century potato farming homesteaders, or sledding down the long, steep driveway. His place was listed for sale after he was diagnosed with cancer three years ago; one of these days we’ll have new residents there: end of an era.
We owe Dan many thanks today for the Ruby Sisson Library. He performed a memorable benefit concert in the old high school gym (now the junior high gym on Lewis St.), raising a large sum of seed money for its construction. He played alone with his grand piano and several guitars to a mesmerized, packed house where you could hear a pin drop and afterwards resounding applause. Those who were there still remember, as if it were yesterday, the rich and amazing expression of his talent, even playing solo on stage everything from old delta-style blues to his greatest hits.
We were in many ways lucky to have such a figure reside here with us in this quiet place. He was literate and well-studied in the arts. He infused what he could of his talent and sense of the finer aspects of life into this small community, as well as the idiosyncrasies that came with his stature of fame.
Dan was an avid skier and spent many a winter’s day at Wolf Creek. If you’re doing a run up there, do one for Dan — send him a great spray of that 2-5% moisture content, Rocky Mountain powder to sparkle his soul. I know he’ll appreciate it!
If you’re one of those who remember Dan’s presence in this community, smile, extend your heart and wish him well — remember the good times he shared with us by his presence here. I know he’ll smile back and thank us for sharing our home with him all these years.
….Bless you Dan…. and travel well wherever your journey takes you.
Cary Ellis has lived in Pagosa fourteen years. She loves the wilderness and playing an active role in our small, special community. For insight into her work and writing projects, visit her website at http://www.virtualearthvillage.com/
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