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Peter Spatt Obituary
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Memories and Condolences
for Peter Spatt
Sponsored by Dr. Ingrid Spatt.
June 23, 2016
It is now nearly ten years since Pete's death. I miss him deeply. He was the essence of hard wildcat climbing. We met on Ojos del Salado in 1992, but alaso climbed on Pissis and Mercedario in Argentina. Every year (usually twice a year) we did something in Colorado. These ventures included North Maroon, South Maroon, Crestone Peak, a little-known and climbed side of Little Bear, Cathedral, and the Kelso Ridge on Torreys three times. For the most part, my climbing stopped with the outing on which Pete died. I will never forget him.
Dave Hershey (Dallas, Texas)
Pix
June 22, 2016
He was my doctor for only a short time. I cried after I called to make an appointment with him and learned of his passing. He was a gentle spirit. He lives in my memory.
August 12, 2011
Pete Spatt: Ojos del Salado (1992); from the Chilean side; it involved technical climbing using jumars well aove 22,000 feet. A photo of Pete taken at the base of the couloir separating the two peaks was featured on the cover of Trail and Timberline; his face was covered by a surgical mask to help him breathe in the cold thin air. Pete was mellow, savvy, a good climbing companion. We reached the summit.
Doug Grant
July 19, 2011
July 19 - Hard to believe that five years has gone by since the terrible day of the accident. He was a ferociously intense athlete whose suburban demeanor belied his intimidating ability to move up and down the mountain. He loved his family, and I think he loved us too. There is perhaps no better testament to his importance to our group than the fact that we haven't joined together in the mountains since losing him. It's not the fear of risks, but that he was the glue that held us together. I miss the certain twinkle Pete had in his eye - quick to see the irony, but also the beauty, of things. We remember and appreciate Pete and those great days that now can never come again.
July 19, 2011
Pete, I know you're up there somewhere. You are always in my thoughts. All of us who have climbed with you--Mike, Cal, Craig, Doug, my son Scott, Greg Wilson--miss you greatly. You always set the pace, and made our standard. We did some awesome climbs together--North Maroon, South Maroon, Little Bear, Crestone Peak--and you finished off Capitol when the rest of us turned back. I still have the photos you took from the snow couloir on Cathedral Peak. The memories never fade. We're all with you, brother.
August 4, 2010
He watched from high upon the cliffs, the hawks in splendor soar,
He said this is where I find my soul, my heart, my peace, my love.
July 22, 2009
There is nothing like Peters' smile, in the sun, blue eyes, blue sky, radiant.
July 24, 2008
Thank you for this beautiful memorial of this very loving, unique and ever reaching man. He is so very missed and always loved.
Ben Beckley
November 6, 2006
Dr. Spatt was my doctor and a very good one. He always had a smile on his face when ever I saw him. He worked with me to bring my blood pressure down and I feel heathier than ever before. I will surely miss him. Will always have him and his family in our prayers.
Ingrid Spatt
August 18, 2006
It has been a month since my brother, Peter Spatt, died on Mount Hope. Every day has had its peaks and valleys for me, and, more often than not, I have been in the valleys. I know that it will take a long time to deal with this loss, but I would appreciate anyone who could contribute more wonderful stories, escapades (!), and real-life wonderful remembrances of my brother. My family would cherish these. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Ingrid Spatt
Carole Belf
August 5, 2006
My mother, Caroline Majhanovich, became a patient of Dr. Spatt's two years ago after moving to Lakewood. We searched for a doctor that would take Medicare patients and he was one of a few. My mother absolutely adored him. He was so kind and caring about her health and helped her with conditions that had gone unnoticed by previous doctors. He will be truly missed by us even though we knew him such a short time.
Our condolences and sincere sympathy go to his wife, children, other family members and friends.
With deep sorrow,
Caroline Majhanovich and Carole M. Belf
Ingrid Spatt
August 1, 2006
I am Dr. Ingrid Spatt, sister of Peter Spatt. Our family has been devastated by Peter's death. We so much appreciate the sincere condolences expressed on this website. Nothing can bring my brother back to me. I hate this tragic accident. However, as he so often told me, as lately as last April, I know that above anyone else, he loved his wife Kim more deeply than anyone else in his life, and he adored his children, David and Julia, more than any father that I have known. I know that Peter loved the mountains and I also know that his essence remains in the rarefied atmosphere of his beloved mountains. Thank you for all who climbed with him and cherished him.
Michael C. Milller
July 28, 2006
Peter Spatt earned his Masters in Biological Sciences with me at the University of Cincinnati working on the moss ecology of the North Slope of the Brooks Range. We began hiking in the Brooks Range in 1977 and 1978. He began his medical career at Ohio State after all but finishing his Ph.D. in Botany, while returning to the Arctic as a researcher and doctor for almost a decade. My sympathies to Kimberly and his family, but he died doing what he loved most, climbing in the mountains somewhere along the Pacific rim. I remember him for his enthusiasm, patience, and dedication to his craft, and his prowess on the low mountains of Alaska that I shared with him so many years ago.
Tim Coutts
July 27, 2006
Peter was my doctor and I had used him in this capacity for many years. I was greatly saddened, this afternoon, to learn of his death. I have no idea of the circumstances and I suppose that doesn't matter much to those he leaves behind. His family have my profound sympathy for their loss. I always found him to be a thoughtful and kind professional who benefitted me greatly. I'm going to miss him a lot.
Dennis Carlson
July 27, 2006
Kimberley, David and Julia,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
Pam Erdmann
July 27, 2006
Dr. Peter Spatt was my primary care doctor and I will miss him. He will be difficult to replace and it is very sad to think about it.
Terry Gail Page
July 26, 2006
To the family of Dr. Peter Spatt- Though I never had the pleasure of meeting Peter, my parent's and his parent's were friends from the South Nassau Unitarian Universalist Congreation for many years. It was with great sadness that I learned of this terrible accident. I do recall hearing wonderful stories about Peter from his parents and after reading the other condolence messages, he must have been a very special person who will be greatly missed. May your wonderful memories of your time together and the love and support of your family and friends help to sustain you during this very difficult time.
Lauren and Carol Barrows
July 25, 2006
Dear Kim, David and Julia,
We are so sorry for your loss. Peter was always extremely kind and genuine, a warm-hearted man who cared deeply for his family and friends. He lovingly looked out for others--even helping sick children on class field trips. You all mean the world to us, and we will always be happy to help with anything you ever need. Kim, David and Julia, you are wonderful people whom we respect and care deeply for. You represent all that is good in this world and we hope you are nurtured by the love of your family and friends as you celebrate the memory of Peter and all that his life meant. Our deepest sympathies, Carol and Lauren Barrows
Allison (Ally) Walter
July 24, 2006
Dear Kim, David and Julia-I'm hoping you remember me, as I babysat for your family for a few years back when i was in high school...(Allison). I want to express my deepest condolences. I'm so so sorry that this tragic accident happened and that you all are having to deal with this immense loss of a great man. I wanted to tell you all how much I loved sitting for you guys and how much fun i had w/ David and Julia and say thank you for enriching my life w/ all of your laughter and generosity and life. Kim, you and Peter always went out of your way to make me feel comfortable at your house and were so selfless w/ gifts and taking extra time to give me rides home. I regret having lost touch w/ you all because truly I have fond memories of your family. I know that I haven't known D+J as older kids (I still have a picture in my head as Julia-2 and David-6 year old), but from everything I observed years ago, Kim and Peter were the epitome of amazing parents/role models. those kids adored their parents and I know they knew how much they were loved. And If I'm sitting over here bawling at hearing about this sad accident, I can only imagine how many thousands of people Peter has continued to touch w/ his laughter, selflessness and love over the years. Thank you all for having touched my life so much. I hope you can find some peace from the waves of grief and find comfort in one another. (I'd love to hear from you all sometime if you would like to possibly touchbase sometime in the future)
Susie Love
July 24, 2006
Dr. Spatt was my doctor and I thought he was wonderful. He took time to get to know his patients and always had time to listen. My prayers are with his family at this time of loss. May God Bless you.
Andrea
July 23, 2006
Dearest Julia, let me start with telling you how proud your father was of you. He could never believe that you could control a horse, "a thousand pound beast" he used to say "and she is only 80 pounds soaking wet"! He thought you were the most courageous girl he had ever known. He loved giving you horsie back rides and loved the way you hugged him when he came home after a long days work. You were the light of his life. He loved that you were such a fabulous reader and always felt certain that you would be great at anything you chose to do, and I am sure he was right. David, he said that you had become an amazing young man. He felt so confident about the choices you were making in life and he said you were fun to be with and really becomming his buddy and he loved every minute of it!He said were a guy who had "a really good head on his shoulders". He loved being outside with you and the hikes you took together made him feel so good! He was really proud of everything you had accomplished at school and in Eagle Scouts. When you got your drivers liscense I asked him if he was worried, and he said no he really wasn't, he trusted your choices so much. Kim, I never really knew you, as Peter and I were work colleagues for many years. We shared a lot of stories about our families, me having daughters older then your two children, he would "run stuff" by me. I can tell you that his family was the most important thing in the world to him. He treasured you all. He only spoke of the three of you, the mountains and his intense work schedule, which as you know, often was overwhelming. He loved the three of you and that is for certain. He took care of my father when my father was was dying and did all he could to save his life, but he was an old man with pneumonia and it was his time to pass on. And Peter always beat himself up over it, though I reassured him there was no more he could do. He was just so caring and loving toward his patients. Being in a specialty, my patients often needed a really good internist so I often referred my most complicated cases to him, knowing that he would be thorough and caring, and he always was. Recently, I even received a thank you note from a patient who thanked me for sending him to Peter, saying that he had never received such good care.
Though none of you know me hardly at all, let me reassure you that my prayers and love for you are flowing over you with as much love as I have. Noone will miss the Peter and the father that the three of you know and love. I, too, will miss him; a true confidante, colleague and real friend.
I read that when pain is too strog and the answers seem unattainabe we should broaden the scope of our questions and maybe the answers wil come in time. Know that Peter is there with you, in soul, even though I am certain that is not enough.
I love you all deeply and my heart and prayers will always surround you.
Joni Harris
July 23, 2006
Dr.Spatt was my friend. I worked with him 6 years ago. Before he went into private practice with Dr.Leon. I will miss him terribly, as I am sure alot of his other colleages and friends from Lutheran.
I want to tell the family how sorry I am for losing him so soon. May Gos bless you thru these times and watch over all of you.
Irene Simmons
July 23, 2006
My love and prayers to the family of Dr. Spatt. He was my doctor.The most knowledgeable, kind and dedicated doctor I have ever known. I have lived eighty two years.
Dr. Ed Barrett & Family
July 22, 2006
Kimberley, David, Julia,for as much as I've seeen the three of you through the years,I only had the pleasure of meeting Peter a few times. But I came to know him through you. What a GREAT guy! He lives on in you.Call if you need anything--walk, talk, whatever. My phone is always on for you: 720-339-8180.You know after my Kelly died unexpectedly, I know how you feel. Keep Peter alive in your hearts.
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