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Pitkin County Attorney John Ely has died following a battle with cancer, according to friends and colleagues who confirmed the news Friday afternoon. He was 67.
Ely died early Friday morning, at his residence in Emma, surrounded by loved ones including his wife, retired County Court Judge Erin Fernandez-Ely; and their two children, Julia and Michael; as well as family dogs.
Ely — who worked for the county for more than 34 years — had been fighting a particularly aggressive and rare form of cancer for a year-and-a-half. All the while, he continued his work.
Aside from a few close friends and coworkers, few in the community knew about his situation, said Pitkin County Commissioner Patti Clapper, who first started working with Ely when she was a member of the county’s planning commission in the mid-1990s. From that time and through her two three-term-periods as a county commissioner (plus four years when she was out of office in between), the two were friends, she said.
“He chose to keep it under wraps from the community,” Clapper said. “Cancer is very cruel and he fought it very hard. He is going to be missed by so many, and for so many reasons.”
After working in the lower Roaring Fork Valley as a prosecutor with the District Attorney’s Office and also as a private attorney, Ely joined the county in November 1990, first as an assistant county attorney. After a few years in that role, he was promoted to county attorney.
Pitkin County government released a statement to the community via the Aspen Daily News just before 2 p.m. Friday, calling Ely "a friend and dedicated public servant.”
"Our Pitkin County family is deeply saddened by the news today of County Attorney John Ely’s passing," the statement says. "Our thoughts are with the Ely family as they navigate this tremendous loss. We ask that you honor the privacy of the family as they mourn John."
The release states that in his "illustrious" career with the county, Ely was a strong and dedicated voice for the boards he served and the community at large.
"He was especially dedicated to environmental issues such as protecting water resources, the natural environment and our community’s unique character. John’s dedication, intelligence and experience will be truly missed by his Pitkin County family," the release says.
Ely was known to be a private person, but Aspen City Attorney Jim True established a friendship with him in the mid-1980s. That's when True was a criminal defense attorney and Ely was a prosecutor working in Glenwood Springs.
"He was just a great guy, very gentle and he had a brilliant mind," True said Friday.
County Manager Jon Peacock said Ely had been extremely active in the job up until this week.
"He was a good adviser," Peacock said. "He knew what he was talking about and he knew this community well. This is a huge loss for our organization and the community."
Peacock said the Board of County Commissioners will hold an executive session on Tuesday to discuss next steps for the county attorney's position. It's likely that someone will be appointed to serve in the role temporarily while a search is conducted for permanent legal counsel, he said.
County Commissioner Greg Poschman provided a statement to the Aspen Daily News, also using the word "brilliant" in describing Ely.
"John was a fierce advocate of the people, lands and rivers in our watershed and the region beyond," Poschman said. "I'll miss John as a friend and as wise counsel for the eight years I have served as commissioner.
"So many others at the county served longer with John than I, and I know they share my sentiments, and we all deeply feel this loss. I hope his passing was as peaceful and comfortable as possible, and I'm so glad his family was with him," Poschman added.
Clapper said she was in contact Friday with Fernandez-Ely, who has asked for privacy. Clapper said she got to visit with them early this week at the Elys’ home.
“The family is very strong, tight and supportive of each other,” she said.
Clapper recalled her early days as a county commissioner, when she would bug Ely with endless questions.
“He was always patient with me,” Clapper said. For what she needed to learn about government and the law, “John was my go-to guy.”
The special thing about working with Ely, she said, was that he was forthright.
“John didn’t tell us what we wanted to hear, he told us what we needed to know,” Clapper said.
Ely had great affection for the land on which he lived and the land that surrounded him, she said. He loved his dogs over the years and was often seen hiking with them.
His black retriever, Sam, was at his side all week, according to Clapper. “Sam always loved John as much as John loved him. He’s a big boy — kind of like John.”
His friends and acquaintances say Ely had a dry wit and was funny and friendly, yet they stressed that he kept a private life and was low-key about his accomplishments.
“He did incredible things for Pitkin County that most people never knew and will never know,” Clapper said.