David L. Cole ’61 died on February 25, 2024, in Lexington, Kentucky.

(The following was provided by Vail Daily in February, 2024:)

David L. Cole ’61

David Cole was born in Boston, MA, on April 26, 1939, the son of Clarence and Eleanor Cole.  He passed away peacefully on the morning of February 25, 2024, in Lexington, KY.. Dave earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Bowdoin College in 1961 and an M.B.A. in marketing from Harvard Business School in 1964. As an early settler to the Vail Valley in 1972, Dave spent four-plus wonderful decades enjoying the Colorado mountains that he loved with all his soul. His passion for skiing and Vail was only equaled by his passion for selling real estate, and he built a very successful real estate career over many years in the area. In 1978 he was the founder and first president of the Vail Board of Realtors, who named him their “Realtor of the Year” in 1980. He also had a very extensive background in Colorado Association of Realtor activities, being a director, a regional vice president, and a member of many realtor committees.

Dave was also very involved in local community activities, including the Eagle Valley Land Trust, Tomorrow Vail, the Eagle County Open Space Committee, the 1989 World Alpine Ski Championships Advisory Committee, and was a director of the Vail Religious Foundation, which managed the Vail Interfaith Chapel. he was a lay reader in the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Vail for many years, and was also a past director of the church.

Dave’s later years were spent in Lexington, KY, with his late wife, Virginia Kraft Payson. Dave is predeceased by his parents, as well as his sister Marylou Cole. He is survived by his sister Janet M. Courant of Greene, ME, his brother, John W. Cole of Arlington, MA, favorite poochie – Star, numerous cousins, as well as nieces and nephews.