May 28, 1993 – October 24, 2024

Bridger William Baird was born on May 28, 1993, and died at the age of 31 on October 24, 2024. Bridger will be remembered for his illuminating smile, immense passion, and free spirit that made an impact on all those he touched. Bridger, fittingly named after the legendary adventurer and mountain man Jim Bridger, was born and raised in Estes Park, Colorado. Bridger earned his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in Structural Engineering from the University of Colorado – Boulder.
During his time in Boulder, Bridger embarked on adventures that took him abroad to explore the world’s natural beauty, which included trips to work the wine vineyards of Argentia, summit the Cotopaxi Volcano (19,347 ft above sea-level) in Ecuador, mountain bike across the intricate labyrinth of spires known as El Valle De La Luna in Bolivia, journey from the beaches of Goa to the glaciers of the Himalayas in India, and travel across Israel through Tel Aviv and Jerusalem on his birth-right. Bridger never said no to an adventure, and developed a deep spiritual connection with the austere beauty of the natural world, following in his late parents Biff and Judy’s footsteps.
As a byproduct of his jubilant spirit, Bridger ascended to expert levels of skiing, mountain biking, technical climbing, and river rafting. Yet, despite his own skill, Bridger’s charismatic charm made him a magnet for adventurers of all skill-levels, to whom Bridger guided with patience and positivity.
Bridger’s academic successes echoed his approach to the outdoors, he was meticulous, technical, and always willing to teach his fellow classmates. Bridger’s Master’s thesis was titled “Quantifying the Onset of Damage for Light-Frame Wood Buildings in Induced Earthquakes,” and Bridger passionately volunteered to his local N.G.O. syndication of Engineers without Borders, where he worked to serve the needs of disadvantaged people through his technical craft.
After leaving Boulder, Bridger successfully started his own Engineering Firm in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, “Slopeside Engineers,” all while his bigger-than-life personality spread throughout his new home. He quickly became a community fixture amongst the alpine adventurers and river rafters.
Bridger was unwaveringly loyal and dedicated to his family, and in the honor of his late mother, made his most important trip abroad to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro, a feat she had achieved over a decade prior while in remission from cancer as part of her efforts to raise money and awareness for women’s cancer research.
Bridger will be remembered for his positivity, intellect, and free mind, where nothing was ever unattainable or too big for him to accomplish.
Bridger is survived by his younger brother Hayden Baird (Dallas, TX); his maternal cousins, Sylve Rosen-Bernstein (New York, NY), Gustin Rosen, and Vera Rosen-Bernstein (Providence, RI); Patsy, Luka, and Talula Gelb (Tucson, AZ); his maternal uncles Derek Bernstein (Providence, RI), Don Watson (Cabo San Lucas, MX), and Howe Gelb (Tucson, AZ); his paternal uncle James Baird and wife, Joyce (Clive, IA), and paternal cousins Elizabeth (Kansas City, MO) and Allison (Chicago, IL) Baird.
Bridger joins his loved ones who preceded him in death, including his parents William (“Biff”) Baird and Judy Rosen; aunts Jamie, Amy, and Lisa Rosen; his maternal grandparents, Julis (“Jack”) Rosen, Claire and Bill Gelb; and his paternal grandparents William (“Doc”) and Marie Baird.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Rocky Mountain Conservancy and Oniya in Bridger’s name.