James Allen Erdman

James Allen Erdman, was born December 20, 1935 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, to Robert and Esther Erdman. He died peacefully on February 4, 2015 at his mountain “hermitage” high in the Rocky Mountains near Red Feather Lakes, Colorado. He’d fought a brief struggle against Mesothelioma, cancer of the lining around the lungs. He was 79. In the early 1960s, Jim was a member of the Wetherill Mesa archeological team that helped expand Mesa Verde National Park (near Cortez, Colorado) to include some of the most remarkable ancient Pueblo cliff dwellings, including the famed “Long House”. There he completed his research in botany and earned a PhD in plant ecology from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Later, he taught at Fort Lewis College, Durango, Colorado, until he became a geobotanist for the United States Geological Survey in Lakewood, Colorado, a position he held until he retired in the 1990s. Jim’s scientific research contributed to non-invasive and more environmentally friendly techniques for mineral exploration, the control of noxious weeds in prairie ranch lands, and the management of wetlands and other natural resources. A pioneer in his field, he presented his research in the Soviet Union, China, Scandinavia, and at symposiums across North America. A writer, activist, and provocateur, Jim was deeply concerned about the environmental challenges before us. He contributed generously to political causes he felt would contribute to the flourishing of the natural world. In later years, he combined a keen understanding of natural science with insights drawn from history and anthropology in order to address the cultural and political mistakes he felt certain are leading us toward disaster. His final paper, “A Sketch of Three Cultures—Past, Present, Future—Weld County, Colorado” (2013) focused on the interaction between the natural world and its human inhabitants and directly challenged the threat posed to both by the fracking industry. He concluded that paper with a quote from an unknown author, typical of his outlook: “The human spirit needs places where nature has not been rearranged by the hand of man.” Jim was above all a naturalist, in love with the all things wild and wonderful. Only months before his death he was still climbing fourteen thousand foot peaks, and curating nature walks at the Soapstone Prairie Natural Area in the wilderness north of Fort Collins. Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Mardi Erdman (died 1994), whom he adored. He is survived by his sister, Betsy Germanotta of Boston, Massachusetts (married to Dante, deceased), brother, John Erdman of Milwaukee, Wisconsin (married to Maritsa), and sons, Chris Neufeld-Erdman of Fresno, California (married to Patty) and James F. Erdman of Blackhawk, Colorado (married to Karen). He is grandfather to seven grandchildren: Josh, Jeremy, Katy, Sarah, Hannah, and their spouses/partners (from Chris and Patty), and Jake, Kasey Rose, and their spouses/partners (from James and Karen); he also has three great-grandchildren: Mason, Carter, and Ellie. A service of celebration is being planned for sometime this spring. If you're interested in receiving information about the gathering, please add a comment here and provide your email information. Thank you. For extended information, stories, and a video of Jim Erdman in his mountain home, please go to https://chriserdman.squarespace.com/blog/2015/2/6/rip-james-allen-erdman-1935-2015-father-naturalist-teacher

Tributes

James Allen Erdman

December 20, 1935 - February 4, 2015