James Lee Detterline

1956 - 2016

Dr. James Lee Detterline 1956-2016 Jim was born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania in 1956 to the Rev. Milton E. Detterline and Nancy Day Detterline. Jim was a graduate of Boyertown High School and Moravian College in Bethlehem, and received his Masters and Doctorate from Memphis State University. He joined the National Park Service and became the Long’s Peak Supervisor at Rocky Mountain National Park. He was responsible for some 1,200 rescues during his career, and was awarded the Congressional Medal of Valor. Jim was a world class climber, locally known as “Mr. Long’s Peak”, where he made 428 ascents of the 14,259 ft. mountain, the most in history by a single individual. Jim was truly a renaissance man. He was also a trumpet player, college professor, herpetologist, writer, speaker, naturalist, advocate for the hearing-impaired, volunteer fireman - paramedic, cowboy, and devoted husband. He had the unique ability to touch the lives of everyone he met. Jim passed away as the result of a rock climbing accident, and was found with his beloved dog Annie at his side. Jim went out as he lived his life – on his own terms; doing something that was his passion. There will be a service for Jim at St. Peter UCC, Knauertown, on Saturday November 19 at 1 PM. He is survived by his wife Rebecca, brothers Peter and Jon (wife Nancy), nephews Scott and Matthew Detterline, Michael Landolfa, and stepsister Krishnabai Loscault. To honor Jim’s memory, donations would be appreciated for the Rocky Mountain Conservancy / rmconservancy.org