In Memoriam
This page is to remember our close friends and classmates who have passed on before us. May they be with us in spirit the weekend of Aug. 9-10th as we gather to celebrate 20 years. We remember you with laughter in our ears and love in our hearts!
Chris Anderson
Courtesy of Lynne Ford (Groginsky) -- Christopher Lee Anderson was born August 2, 1970. He attended Burbank and FHS and had many close friends including Dave Downey, Jeremy May and Mark Bebernes. Christopher and I dated between 9th and 10th grade. We were in and out of touch after high school, and reunited at the 10 year FHS reunion. He had gotten his journalism degree at Metro. We lived together for over 2 years in a 12th floor apartment near downtown Denver. He commuted to Boulder every day. He was a "cops and courts" reporter for the Boulder Daily Camera, and covered the Susannah Chase and Jonbenet Ramsey murders with such sensitivity, he received letters from the parents of the victims and was admired and respected by the Chief of the Boulder Police, Boulder District Attorney, even the Ramseys' attorney. He had a quiet, unassuming style in his reporting, and was nicknamed "Columbo" for his ability to be unassuming and humble, and gain people's trust, even as they were dealing with heart-wrenching tragedy. He won 12 awards for his outstanding reporting, but never lost that humility, kindness and gentle, calm, unassuming nature.
Chris was adventurous and we went on countless hikes, boating trips, biking treks and trips to the coast. We played on the beaches of California after exploring most of the hot springs, open spaces and sand dunes in Colorado. We decided to go to Florida in 2001. He was going to check out the newspapers there and scout out the place for us to possibly move. He loved the beach so much. On June 2, 2001, the first morning of our 2 week vacation, a lightning strike came, seemingly out of nowhere, and struck Christopher in the head while standing on a Ft. Lauderdale Beach. The lightning hit me secondarily and I lost consciouness. I was revived by bystanders, then paramedics, and was informed at Broward County Medical Center that Christopher was dead on arrival.
Two hundred people gathered for his funeral at Chataqua Park in Boulder, including the Boulder Police Chief, the local media, some old Fairview friends and, of course, several old girlfriends (the ladies always loved Chris) after a motorcade took us through our beautiful town and past the Daily Camera, where people gathered to watch him go by.
Every day I think of Chris and I know I'm not alone. But he taught me a lot about how to live in this world, how to love life and how to live with sorrow. I can still hear him in my head... "Babe, today, we can do whatever we want."
Steve (Stephen) Collins
Steve (Stephen) Collins passed away in October of 2007. He died from heart failure. He went to FHS for most of the senior year after transferring from Boulder High. After high school he went to CU and became very active in body building and won the Mr. Colorado Body Building Championship in 2006. He did attend junior high and elementary school with many fellow FHS classmates.
Jon DeLario
FHS Classmates believe he attended CU before he passed away.Mark (Barrett) Nikkel
Mark (formerly Barrett) Nikkel attended Fairview for 10th and 11th grade before transferring to Boulder High for his senior year. Many of our classmates grew up with him while attending Bear Creek Elementary and Baseline Junior High as well. He eventually became a lawyer practicing law in Boulder for Nikkel & Nikkel, a partnership with his father. Mark died in a scuba diving accident in Bora Bora on November 29, 2006.
Kevin O'Day
Kevin O'Day died tragically on April 17, 1988 at the age of 18. He was a member of our yearbook staff for three years, and most of the photos in The Lance were taken and developed by him. He always strived to do the best for his fellow students by dedicated many extra hours to this job.
Kevin had three loves in his life... photography, music and his car. Any student who was interested in photography could readily go up to Kevin and he would do all he could to help them. He was a member of the Marching Knights from 1985-1988, during which time he became one of the leaders in the band. Everyone who knew him had a story to tell about Kevin and his car.
Kevin was a beloved son, close friend and proud student of Fairview High School. He continues to be missed by all who met him.
Please kindly let us know who else we need to acknowledge here, thank you.