Local man dies in winter storm

Headed back to his Irwin cabin

[ by Mark Reaman ]

A long-time local passed away in the Irwin area last week, apparently during last week’s major snowstorm.

Mt. Crested Butte police said that their officers received a call about 1 o’clock on Sunday, December 12, “that an Irwin resident had discovered a body that was partially covered in snow on a roadway in the Irwin Townsite.” The body was confirmed to be Irwin resident and long-time Crested Butte local, 81-year-old Robert “Bob” Rozman.

Crested Butte Mountain Rescue was called in by the police to help with the recovery on Sunday afternoon. According to Crested Butte Search and Rescue president Randy Felix, CBSAR mobilized about 1:15 p.m. “CBSAR fielded six members along with the Mt. CB police and the county coroner,” he explained. “CBSAR responded on snowmobiles and a tracked Polaris Ranger UTV. CBSAR brought Bob down from the Irwin townsite that afternoon.”

County coroner Michael Barnes said he did an autopsy on Rozman and while the official results are still pending, he said it is looking like a “natural death.”