Admittedly, I did not know much about Nick DeWolf, the man many called “Aspen’s Conscience” when I heard of his passing. It would be more accurate to say that I had never heard of him.  To be honest, I still do not know much, but I do know enough to say with certainty that Nick DeWolf is a man I regret having never met.

I did read that Nick DeWolf graduated from MIT at 19. I also found Nick’s personal website, which illustrates his wide array of interests. Content on the site includes notes on the Galapagos Archipelago’s evolved residents, a physics scrapbook, information on Aspen’s Grassroot’s TV, and photos of his experience in Vietnam and at the Burning Man celebration, among other things.

DeWolf’s analysis on China’s Three Gorges Dam Project begins in passionate form, “Following our People to People Civil Engineering visit,” he writes, “I couldn’t resist
 spending hours and mounds of scratch paper on the basic numbers involving this 
fascinating project, seeking the unexpected. Here are some results and opinions 
about the project that may not have been adequately challenged or suggested. It
 is surprising how many aspects are calculable from just the annual runoff and
 the reservoir’s area.”

Nick also designed Aspen’s famous dancing water fountain, an attraction he claimed wasn’t a fountain at all, but “a symphony.”

Just this week, my 20-month old daughter spent the afternoon experimenting with Nick’s aquatic symphony, watching cautiously for some time before venturing into the spirited plumes of water. I can only imagine that the excitement on her face, drenched and wearing only a diaper, would have made its inventor smile.

To read of yesterday’s celebration of Nick DeWolf’s life, read “An inventive farewell for Nick DeWolf.”