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'Just good people'

By John C. Ensslin, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 29, 2008 at 12:05 a.m.

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Parker Lofgren, left, Caroline Lofgren and their children Owen and Sophie

Parker Lofgren, left, Caroline Lofgren and their children Owen and Sophie

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Elizabeth Milias winced when she saw the initial news stories on two of her close friends, Parker and Caroline Lofgren, and their two young children dying of carbon monoxide poisoning while vacationing in Aspen.

The stories described the Lof grens as a "prominent" Denver family and as "socialites" who devoted their time to causes they believed in.

They did give time and money to causes. As part of a charity auction, they had won a weekend stay in the $8.95 million estate where they died.

But prominent socialites seems like such an ill-fitting term to Milias, who moved in across the street from the Lof grens' Denver home in 2001 and spent Wednesday night sharing a glass of wine with them as they visited her new home in Aspen.

"They were the real deal," Milias said Sunday. "It (socialite/prominent) doesn't even capture the way they got involved. They weren't in it for parties. They didn't do things because someone asked them to. They were people who got involved in the things they truly cared about. They were just good people."

They were also great parents, Milias said. She remembered how comfortable the Lofgren children — Owen, 10, and Sophie, 8 — were interacting with adults.

When Milias lived across the street in Denver, she kept a growth chart of the kids on her door. They were frequent visitors who loved to play Milias' jukebox.

They played it again Wednesday and brought a backgammon board but ended up telling the adults about their school projects. Sophie was studying the history of Georgetown, and Owen was researching the history of Baby Doe Tabor.

Friends who also were going to stay the weekend with the Lof grens discovered the family's bodies on Friday afternoon. Authorities detected a high level of carbon monoxide in the house, which is located next to the North Star Nature Preserve in the exclusive Morningstar subdivision.

Investigators traced the source of the gas to a malfunction of the hot water and snow melt system. The bodies were transported to Grand Junction, where autopsies are pending.

Their deaths come as a tremendous blow to parents, teachers and students at St. Anne's Episcopal School, where Owen and Sophie were in fourth and third grade, respectively.

"It's absolutely devastating on all kinds of fronts," said Alan Smiley, the head of the school.

"Owen was a really avid researcher and an intellect of the first rank who absolutely loved learning in every way, shape and form," Smiley said.

Sophie was a "bubbly, energetic" presence who was a gifted violinist, he said.

Their deaths are the second major tragedy to hit St. Anne's this school year. In August, Sam and Grace Mousoudi — seventh- and fourth-graders, respectively — were killed when a single engine airplane crashed into an Oregon home where they were vacationing.

Grief counselors will be at St. Anne's when the school opens today. There will also be a private prayer service for students, staff and parents. Funeral arrangements are pending.

The Aspen Times contributed to this report.

Comments

  • November 29, 2008

    8:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    vriss writes:

    This is such a sad story. Me condolences to their remaining family members.

  • November 29, 2008

    9:13 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    fifty writes:

    The lesson here is that it pays to buy a detector.

    Mathematically, if the great people of Colorado spend 3 million per year to all have detectors (that last 10 years or more), and if these people are the only carbon monoxide deaths that would occur if none of us had detectors, and if their lives are valued at more than $750,000 apiece, then it doesn't pay to play the lottery game of, "I don't need a detector; it won't happen to me."

  • November 29, 2008

    1:03 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Spencer writes:

    where is Apsen?

  • November 29, 2008

    1:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    stinkfist2 writes:

    Yeah it looks like it is time to get a detector. When I was doing apartment maintenance, the alarms we installed were dual smoke/carbon monoxide detectors. It's too bad this had to happen.

    Spencer Aspen is up in the Mountains it's a resort town.

  • November 29, 2008

    1:51 p.m.

    Jason writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 29, 2008

    3:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SierraStorm writes:

    Smoke/carbon monoxide alarms are an extremely good idea but more importantly is the installation of the system in an orderly and safe manner as per code and proper/knowledgeable code inspection. Too many installations of these types are done by armatures not knowing the business. Get in-get out=$$$$$.

    fifty writes:
    The lesson here is that it pays to buy a detector...........
    ( Right on!) but, the real lesson here is to have the system checked out by knowledgeable and licensed people. Some years back when I owned and operated an HVAC business, I was called to do an inspection on an attorney's forced air furnace. Another co. had told the owner that there was a crack in the heat exchanger, but that contractor did not condemn the furnace, or at least there was no record of a red tag. I performed an inspection and testing and did locate a crack in the heat exchanger which I pointed out to the owner. I then "red tagged" the furnace, shut off the gas to it and provided the owner with a good price with very little profit just to get heat into the 3000 square foot house and also suggested that the owner shop the price if he thought it necessary. The owner declined the bid and to the best of my knowledge declined a new installation from anyone else. He also removed the red tag from the system and tried to intimidate me into providing him with a new furnace w/o cost for red tagging. $$$$ were more important than family safety.

  • November 29, 2008

    4:24 p.m.

    rj1967 writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 29, 2008

    5:16 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DallasKing94 writes:

    sad, Im sorry.

  • November 29, 2008

    7:53 p.m.

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    Chadley25 writes:

    Wow... just sad. For this to happen at ANY time would be a tragedy. Having it happen during the holidays surely just compounds the pain for their family and friends. Just heartbreaking to see news like this.

  • November 29, 2008

    7:59 p.m.

    BacklashSchitzka writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 29, 2008

    9:17 p.m.

    misterchinaski writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 30, 2008

    9:48 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    matthew1344 writes:

    This is a horrible tragedy. A solid family and contributors to the community perish that quickly. It is another sober warning that our lives can end immediately with no final opportunity to prepare for eternity.

    We need to be prepared to meet God today -- for it might be today.

  • November 30, 2008

    10:47 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    krluhrs writes:

    I worked with Parker during his years at Wallach and when he and Caroline had their two beautiful children. They were truly a loving family and I simply cannot comprehend that they are all gone. Truly devastating! My heart and my prayers go out to their family members. I'm so deeply sorry for your tremendous loss.

  • November 30, 2008

    11:04 a.m.

    ifyem writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • November 30, 2008

    4:19 p.m.

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    morgan writes:

    I have been lucky enough to know the family. They were incredible people. Their father helped my family twenty five years ago when my mother left my abusive father. The scope of the familys generosity and love for people was more than considerable. I feel such a loss. Too bad you people don't consider that while you focus on money for your fodder.

  • December 2, 2008

    7:44 p.m.

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    davidthomson21 writes:

    The Lofgrens are a loving and caring family. The focus of all our energy should be put into prayer to help their loved ones and to let Parker, Caroline, Owen and Sophie rest in peace. Please have this respect.
    I’m Free
    Don’t grieve for me now I’m Free.
    I’m following the path God laid for me,
    I took his hand when I heard his call.
    I turned my back and I left it all.

    I could not stay another day.
    To laugh to love to work or play.
    Tasks undone must stay that way;
    I’ve found that peace at the close of the day.

    If my parting has left a void,
    Then fill it with remembered joy.
    A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss,
    Ah yes, these things I too will miss.
    Be not burdened with times of sorrow.
    I wish you the sunshine of tomorrow.
    My life’s been full, I’ve savored much,
    Good friends, good times, a loved one’s touch.
    Perhaps my time seemed all too brief.
    Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief.
    Lift up your head and share with me
    God wanted me now,
    He set me Free