Scott David Spindler

Scott David Spindler (61) passed away at home after a nearly two year-long battle with cancer. Scott was born in Marquette, Michigan on January 31, 1961, to his parents David Arthur and Dorothea Ann (Kobach) Spindler. He lived most of his early life in the San Jose area, where he attended Lynbrook High School. Scott had a brilliant mind and a near photographic memory, which made classwork easy for him, but also tended to get him into lots of good-natured debates in which he always (and passionately) threw in the last word. He was an incredibly generous person, one who would give the shirt off his back to anyone in need. His generosity manifested in him volunteering for search and rescue in Dolores County, and his early EMT work at the (then) volunteer-only Dove Creek Ambulance District.

Scott was always physically fit; an expert skateboarder in his youth, wrestler in middle school, weight-lifter in high school, a swimmer, and skier. He had a great love of outdoors; he camped, hiked, and backpacked throughout the Sierra, Cascades, and mountains of Colorado. His dream was to backpack the entire length of the Continental Divide Trail. Scott's work experience was varied, and included chef, electronic technician in the early days of Silicon Valley, bus maintenance at Yosemite, carpenter, ski lift mechanic, high-rise roof snow shoveler, satellite dish technician, and emergency medical technician. His various jobs kept him moving from California to the Pacific Northwest, Utah, Colorado, and Texas. He met the "Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me," Lorene, in Dove Creek, and he settled there after they married in 2005.

Scott's interests included target shooting, photography, listening to 1970's rock music, his dogs, your dogs, and anyone's dogs. He loved motorcycles, cars, and guns. He was an avid collector of knives and he meticulously updated his dad's stamp collection. Scott was witty and articulate constantly quoting (even in the delirium of his last days) poets, authors, and music lyrics. Scott was a voracious reader, sometimes reading a book a day. His favorite band was Rush, and his favorite song was Led Zeppelin's Stairway to Heaven, although he thought that Heart's version at Led Zeppelin's induction into the Kennedy Center for Led Zeppelin was nearly as good.

Scott was proud of his father, who worked in the national defense industry protecting our country, and he loved and missed his mom terribly after her death in 1993. He was an affectionate and loving son, brother, husband, and friend. He is missed by his family and friends.

Scott is survived by his wife, Lorene Young; his two Rhodesian Ridgebacks, Prea and Ronin; his three sisters, Cheri Gartner of Reno, NV, Landy Darrow (Andrew) of Auburn, CA, and Kira LeMat (Michael Bowersox) of Portland, OR; his ten wonderful nephews Michael, Marcus, Alex, Matthew, Lucas, Coy Mathew, Orin, Mark, and Darren; and his loving Aunts, Uncles, Cousins and friends throughout the country. He was preceded in death by his parents, David Spindler and Dorothea Brown; and his dogs, Sport and Sasha.

A Celebration of Scott's life will be held in the Fall. The family requests that memorial gifts be designated to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Rescue at www.ridgebackrescue.org.