Gregory Allen Fugate

Gregory Allen Fugate was becoming an exceptional landscape photographer when pancreatic cancer took his life shortly after his 50th birthday. His love of photography was really a way for him to be outside and explore the wilderness that fed his soul. He spent many days in Utah’s Red Rock Country during his last decade, producing and sharing the type of photographs that became his passion.

In September he took a final trip, writing “Today was a perfect day. I’m back in my beloved Utah desert, camping and hiking with my brothers” and he was able to hike with them to Delicate Arch and the Colorado River overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park. Greg was also able to return to the Green River overlook in Canyonlands, the place he said his passion for landscape photography began. This past year, Greg was able to spend time in all five of Utah’s National Parks, and was able to summit Angel’s Landing, a hike that brought him great pride.

In October, the President of the Professional Photographers of Colorado presented Greg with the Columbine Pin, the Gold Bar, and his third Six for Six award for his submissions to the organization’s annual competition. Greg saw some amazing natural places through the lens of his camera and was always eager to share his knowledge and experiences with others.

Greg was born in Leadville, Colorado, grew up in Idaho Springs, Colorado and was the oldest of Jean and Nelson Fugate’s three sons. He graduated from Clear Creek High School in 1992 as co-valedictorian, in 1996 he received a B.A. from Knox College in Illinois (summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with Honors), and in 1998 a M.A. from the University of Colorado in Boulder. Greg spent his professional career with the Colorado Office of the State Auditor and was most proud of his role in the training and mentoring of the office’s employees. He spent more than a dozen years as an active member of the National State Auditors Association Peer Review Subcommittee and was on the Executive Committee of the National Conference of State Legislators. Greg was proud of the important work he accomplished on behalf of the State of Colorado.

In addition to his parents, Greg is survived by his uncle, Steve Fugate, and brothers, Jeff and Steve, along with Jeff’s wife, Lisa, and their children Jack and Emmy of Littleton, Colorado, and Steve’s wife Meg, and their two sons Charlie and Cooper, of Richmond, Vermont. Greg was a loving and caring son, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, nephew and friend to many people. He thoroughly enjoyed spending time with family, especially during the holidays, summer camping trips, and vacations at Lake Powell. One of his more personal photo albums chronicled more than 40 years of family vacations house boating at Lake Powell, a tradition that spanned four generations of Greg’s family.

Greg was a dog-lover and committed to rescue dogs. He survived three of them but leaves behind Arlo, his “saving grace these past six years.”

Greg had a gracious and infectious spirit and cared deeply about the people he knew and the places he traveled. In lieu of flowers, we hope you will consider providing support to the following organizations that were meaningful to Greg:

Project Angel Heart - https://www.classy.org/team/542113

Glen Canyon Conservancy – https://canyonconservancy.org

Grand Staircase Escalante Partners – https://gsenm.org

If you do donate, please let us know by including Jeff Fugate’s email address jmfugate20@hotmail.com.

Greg’s Celebration of Life will be held in the spring where he can be celebrated in the nature he loved so much. Details will be posted through his Caring Bridge site at https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/gregfugate