Heidi Hanssen, shown here during a vacation in Portugal, died on Sept. 2 after battling cancer. Her husband and colleagues remember the Ridgway Elementary School principal for her sense of adventure and passion for students. Photo courtesy Andy Dennis
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‘She knew how to make people feel loved’
Equally adventurous in life and passionate about students, Heidi Hanssen left a legacy of professionalism and devotion at Ridgway Elementary
The first thing he noticed was how gorgeous she was.
It was impossible, of course, to miss the tall brunette in the Minturn Middle School classroom where Andy Dennis and Heidi Hanssen met as teachers more than 20 years ago.
He quickly learned there was much more to her. A smile that illuminated every space she occupied. The charisma and confidence she exuded when he invited her on a southwestern Colorado ski trip with friends and she turned to him on the chairlift and asked: “So are you going to...
