A few years back, I was invited to join a regular Saturday morning breakfast gathering in
Nederland. We met regularly at the
Sundance Cafe just south of Ned until it shut down. We moved to
Neds in town. The 8:00 am group regulars were Charlie,
Terry Bergin and
Herm Weaver. Other folks would join in now and then including Herm's brothers, Terry's sons, Charlie's son, and other locals. As one might expect, there never was a shortage of conversation admixed with many laughs. Things took a somber turn when Charlie was diagnosed with cancer, and amazingly he proceeded fairly normally through all of his treatments and during the final weeks of his life. He always looked like he had just stepped off of the pages of GQ. His memorial service was filled with loving tributes to a man of many talents, not the least of which was his ability to listen to others. Vaya con dios, amigo.
"Charlie Dillon, December 26, 1949 to July 16, 2019. Charlie Dillon, of Pinecliffe,
was a sharp and well-respected businessman. His ability to relate to
people made him a great salesman.
Charlie was born in Denver to Mother, Susan Jane Dillon, and
Father, Charles Morton Dillon, now deceased. Charlie died on in Longmont, after a battle with cancer. He graduated from East
High School in 1967, and while in high school, he was part of a band.
He graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 1971 with a
degree in anthropology.
Charlie and his wife, Deborah Dillon, were
married for 28 years. Charlie and Deb lived in South Denver for 22 years
and owned a home in Pinecliffe for 20 years. They have lived in
Pinecliffe full-time for the last six years.
Charlie spent many years working with his father as a manufacturer’s
representative, at the Dillon Company in Denver, and then followed an
entrepreneurial path, opening his surf and tackle shop, Charlie’s Sinker
Swim, on the central coast of California, at Avila Beach. Charlie then
served as upper level management for Turf Irrigation Supply, in Denver.
Charlie was involved in several executive mentoring programs and
always enjoyed coaching young entrepreneurs and setting people up for
success. He was on the Board of Directors of an organization called
Young Audiences, which provides art education and integration programs
to youth. He was passionate about making the arts available to children
and young adults.
For 14 years, Charlie was on the board of the Pinecliffe Association.
Charlie then became the president of the Board of the Association for
eight years, which included an ongoing Forest Stewardship program, in
collaboration with Boulder County.
Charlie was passionate about preserving nature and always influenced
others to “make a light footprint.” For the last part of his life,
Charlie volunteered his time at the Nederland Community Center, taking a
real interest in community development in the town of Nederland.
Every Saturday, Charlie would meet his friends, Terry Bergin, Herm
Weaver and Doug Swartzendruber, and sometimes others, for their
breakfast club at a Nederland restaurant. When the group met this past
Saturday without Charlie, lots of tears were shed. Terry and Charlie
also did lots of fishing together.
Regarding his religious beliefs, Charlie said: “I have deep beliefs,
yet I don’t want to try and tell others what to think.” He grew up in
the Presbyterian Church.
Charlie loved music, especially the Beatles, and his favorite song was “Fool on the Hill.”
He is survived by his wife, Deborah; children, Anna Dillon Wall, Todd
Dillon, Brian Dillon and Laura McCalley; two sisters, Thama Judy and
Leslie Dillon; five grandchildren, Adelyn Wall, 13; Willow Wall, 11; Pax
Wall, 8: Ava Dillon, 11, and Hazel McCalley, 2."
