1949 - 2006
Steamboat Springs resident Dr. Charles Craig Hadden died Nov. 27, 2006, after a yearlong battle with cancer at his Steamboat Springs home, where he was surrounded by his loving family. He was 57.
He was born July 19, 1949, in Colorado Springs.
Craig was professor of communications at the Steamboat Springs Alpine Campus of Colorado Mountain College from 1983 until 1999, winning Faculty Member of the Year in the early 1990s. He was a lifelong educator who enjoyed teaching not only the basic English composition classes, but also very popular classes of his own innovation: history of the 1960s, history of rock 'n' roll, film and mythology.
Craig left CMC for Lamar Community College in 1999, where he served as dean of students from 1999 until 2002.
A lifelong goal of Craig's was to earn his Ph.D., which he achieved in 2004 from Colorado State University with a doctorate in education, emphasis on community college leadership. Craig moved to Berkeley, Calif., in 2002, where he served as dean of instruction at Berkeley City College and then as vice president of instruction.
Prior to his marriage to Susie in 1980 and their move to Steamboat Springs in 1983, Craig spent six years in Europe teaching English as a Second Language in Germany and performing folk music. Music was always an important part of Craig's life, as was the writing of poetry and prose, reading, movies, playing bridge and fantasy football (he was active in two leagues and was concerned about his team even at the end of his life).
He was a tenor with the Steamboat Springs Mountain Madrigal Singers from the time of the group's inception, and a tenor soloist with the Steamboat Springs Messiah Choir for many years. Many locals will remember his years as a performer for the Steamboat Springs Arts Council's annual cabaret shows in the "Unraveling Pillsburys" as characters "Roy and Roi," alongside friends Brad Kindred, Tom Schwall and Jeff Swoyer.
Craig's daughter, Maggie, was the love of his life. He encouraged her in her athletic and scholastic pursuits as well as sharing his love of writing, music and movies with her.
He was preceded in death by his stepson, Max Lee Knight.
Craig is survived by his daughter, Maggie, a senior at Fort Lewis College in Durango; former wife, Susie Hadden and stepson, Brian Knight, of Steamboat Springs; stepdaughter, Lisa Knight Davies and her husband, Jeff of Hood River, Ore.; his father, Lesley Hadden of Gallup, N.M.; his mother, Georgia Hadden of Denver; brother, Mark Hadden of Las Cruces, N.M.; sister, Mora Fiedler and her children Kelly and Nathan of Denver.
Cremation has taken place. A celebration of his life will be July 19, 2007, in Steamboat Springs. The family suggests that memorials donations be made to the VNA Hospice or Colorado Mountain College Alpine Campus/Yampa Valley Foundation in care of the Yampa Valley Funeral Home at P.O. Box 776090, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477.
