Sarah Ruth Woodmansee

On September 26, 2025, Sarah Ruth Woodmansee (née Hofmann) passed away peacefully at her home in Oak Creek, Colorado, surrounded by her loving family, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. She was 83 years old.

Sarah was born on July 22, 1942, in Colorado Springs, Colorado, to Harold and Ruth Hofmann (née Greene). She spent her early childhood in Colorado before moving with her family to Farmington, New Mexico, where she graduated from Farmington High School in 1959. She went on to earn an associate degree from Stephen's College in Missouri and later a bachelor's degree in Political Science from the University of New Mexico in 1965. While at UNM, she joined the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and formed lifelong friendships, including with Jean Anne Woodmansee, who would later introduce her to her husband, Robert G. (Bob) Woodmansee PhD Professor Emeritus. Sarah and Bob were married on August 24, 1963, beginning a partnership rooted in love, intellectual curiosity, and shared dedication to the natural world.

Sarah's career reflected her passion for social justice, learning, and care for others. She began as a social worker for the New Mexico Department of Welfare, focusing on foster care and adoption placements. Later, while Bob pursued his doctorate in ecosystem science, Sarah worked at the Natural Resource Ecology Lab (NREL) at Colorado State University (CSU), where she contributed to groundbreaking research on prehistoric ecosystems and coauthored a paper published in Science. She took particular delight in this accomplishment, knowing that her name reached print before either Bob or her brother, Chris Hofmann, an entomologist, had published.

After the birth of her daughters, Clara and Katherine (Katie), Sarah embraced education as a Montessori teacher, training in the Montessori method and fostering a love of learning in both children and adults. In 1992, she returned to CSU to earn a Master's in Social Work, later working with youth transitioning out of foster care. She also brought her skills and passion to land conservation through the Legacy Land Trust (now Colorado Open Lands), protecting vital open spaces and wildlife habitats that remain a living testament to her values.

In 2005, Sarah and Bob settled in Oak Creek, Colorado, where Sarah quickly became a beloved presence in the Stagecoach and Steamboat Springs communities. She poured her energy into causes she believed in-writing letters to the editor, volunteering for local charities, and supporting the Routt County Democrats. Her voice and efforts championed both people and the planet, leaving a profound mark on the Yampa Valley.

Sarah will be remembered for her quick wit, sharp mind, compassion, and fierce commitment to justice, conservation, and community. She was deeply loved by her family and friends and loved them just as deeply in return. Her legacy will live on in the wild places she worked so hard to protect and in the lives of those she touched.

Sarah is survived by her husband, Robert (Bob) Woodmansee PhD Professor Emeritus; her daughters, Clara Woodmansee and Katherine (Katie) Woodmansee; and her sister, Jeanette Hansen. She was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, H.C. (Chris) Hofmann PhD.

A celebration of Sarah's life will be held on June 13, 2026, at Stagecoach State Park. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to organizations close to her heart, including Friends of Stagecoach State Park https://www.friendsofstagecoachsp.org/s-woodmansee and Sierra Club Trappers Lake https://www.sierraclub.org/colorado/trappers-lake.