A well-known Durango lawyer and active community member who died in December while skiing on Red Mountain Pass suffered a heart attack, according to the San Juan County coroner.
Michael Goldman, 63, became unresponsive while backcountry skiing with two friends Dec. 14 in U.S. Basin, southeast of the Red Mountain Pass summit. First responders tried to revive Goldman but were unsuccessful. He was pronounced dead about two hours after the initial call.
San Juan County Coroner Keri Metzler said Goldman likely suffered a heart attack stemming from atherosclerotic coronary artery disease and myocardial bridging.
Metzler said Goldman’s family was notified of the autopsy results.
Efforts to reach a family member were unsuccessful Friday.
According to a bio on Goldman, Nicholson and Mack Attorneys at Law’s website, the practice primarily focused on civil and criminal litigation at the state and federal levels.
Goldman briefly served in the Colorado Attorney General’s Office’s Appellate Section before moving to Durango. He also served as a deputy district attorney and assistant district attorney for the 6th Judicial District Attorney’s Office from 1988 through 1995. In 1995, he left the prosecutor’s office for private practice, though he served as La Plata County’s Attorney from 1995 to 2009.
He was appointed to the district’s Judicial Nominating Commission from 1999 to 2005 and the Governor’s Commission on Civil Justice Reform in 2000. In 2012, he was appointed by Gov. John Hickenlooper to the 6th Judicial District Judicial Performance Commission and served until 2019.
He was also a member of the Southwest Colorado Bar Association, the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers and the Criminal Justice Advisory Act Panel. He served as special council for Durango, town attorney for Bayfield, and provided services to San Juan Basin Public Health, San Juan County and the town of Silverton.
Outside of law practice, Goldman was involved in a number of community organizations. He was on the board of the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic. He was also a board member and legal council for Manna soup kitchen and worked with the Adaptive Sports Association.
He was described by colleagues and friends as a selfless person dedicated to serving his community fairly and with integrity.
Goldman is survived by his mother, sister, wife, son and brother.
sedmondson@durangoherald.com
