Daniel Ned Linegar, 96, of Estes Park died at the Estes Park Medical Center Monday July 26, 2010. He was born on February 25, 1914 in Greensburg, IN to Daniel Clinton Linegar and Lillian Shepard Linegar. He graduated from high school in Greensburg in 1932, enrolled as a freshman at Miami University, Oxford, OH. He received his A.B. degree in Liberal arts in 1936.
His first job was as Assistant Director of YMCA at the University of Cincinnati, OH. There, he met Margaret Gillette, one of six children of Dr. Arthur and Elizabeth Gillette. They were married August 28, 1938.
The couple moved to Chicago where they both attended George Williams College, adjacent to the University of Chicago. Ned enrolled in the Organizational Management at the college and religious courses at the Divinity School where he graduated with an MS degree in Organizational Management at the same time receiving a Doctorate of Divinity degree in the Disciples of Christ Church.
They then moved to State College, PA where Ned was Assistant Director of the Penn State Christian Association. During the War years, Ned was in a detached service with the Penn State School for the Mentally Deficient. During those years, Ned & Margaret had two children; Daniel Stuart and Mary Carol.
From 1946 to 1949 Ned was the Executive Director of the Young Men’s Christian Association at the University of Kansas at Lawrence.
From 1949 to 1957 he was Associate Director of the southwest area of the YMCA with offices in Dallas, TX serving Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. Part of his duties included the YMCA of The Rockies in Estes Park, CO in the summers. In 1958 the family moved to Estes Park full time when the YMCA opened year round.
From 1961 to 1969, Ned served as Executive Director of the Estes Park Chamber of Commerce. He also helped establish the Estes Park Church of the Air, the Estes Park Area Museum, the Center for Research and Education and was a founding member of the Fine Arts Guild of Estes Park where he directed and appeared in many productions.
Ned was a member of Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies and was part of the Interfaith Council of Estes Park which established Estes Valley Memorial Gardens and served as President of the cemetery’s board. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Estes Park and had served as Secretary and Chaplain for many years. He was named Ambassador Emeritus at the Estes Park Visitor Center and also served on the Estes Park Senior Center Board.
Ned was a poet and wrote many poems for and about his friends both living and dead. He enjoyed working with people and loved to establish new programs for existing organizations. At the time of his death he was still active in local clubs and still conducted live interviews twice a month on the Senior Focus radio program.
After Margaret’s death in 2000, Ned married Eleanor Shaw of Estes Park in 2002. With this union, he gained many additions to his family. Ned is survived by Eleanor, son Dan Linegar and daughter Carol Smid; grandchildren Angela MacGregor and her husband Steve; Scott Smid and wife Shauntele; Laurie Dean; great grandchildren Brenna Rae, Emma, Lily, Kate, Hadley, Dallin, Keira and Jaden.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Margaret and son in law, James Smid.
A memorial service to celebrate Ned’s life will be held Thursday July 29, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. at Presbyterian Community Church of the Rockies. Memorial contributions may be made to the Estes Park Medical Center Foundation (EPMCF) or to the Estes Park Senior Center in care of Allnutt Funeral Service 1302 Graves Avenue Estes Park, CO 80517. See www.allnutt.com to send a message to Ned’s family.
