Dolf W. Fieldman's long and interesting life ended unexpectedly but peacefully Monday, September 10, 2018, a week after his 94 ^th birthday party, with his wife, Dolores by his side.  His parents Si and Ruth (Keller), and brother, Aaron, predeceased him.

Loved and missed by his wife of 39 years, his three daughters Glenn, Hali, and Lisa, and his son Saul, Dolf will be fondly pictured in our minds standing on a rock outcrop in his khakis, or, in later years, driving, one of a series of beloved convertibles.

A native of Duluth, Minnesota, Dolf joined the Merchant Marine at 17 and saw dangerous duty sailing Liberty cargo ships on the Gulf and in the Atlantic at the beginning of World War II.  Later, in the Navy, he served as a radio control operator on destroyers, helping to protect the U. S. fleet but permanently damaging his hearing; like many veterans, he spoke very little about his war experiences but served with pride.  While wandering the western US after his discharge he found temporary work with a prospector tying wire cable, which he had learned in the Navy, and became hooked on geology—an interest that lasted the rest of his life.  He went on to earn his degree in geology at the University of Montana in Missoula, where he met and married Flora Hamilton.  After time in Washington D.C. working for the USGS and in the Joplin, Missouri area, they settled in Colorado.  They shared a love of Theater, politics and the outdoors, as well as pride in their four children; they divorced in 1970 after 22 years of marriage.  Flora Hamilton Fieldman, passed away in Denver, Colorado in 2014.

Shortly after arriving in Denver, Dolf, joined Congdon and Care, Ltd. an exploration mining group, and spent most of his career traveling the world as the firm's chief geologist; he was a true "field-man".  He had many rollicking adventures as well as making a number of lucrative discoveries, one of which was the "Sam Goosley" mine in British Columbia, which from 1980 to 1994 was one of the world's largest silver mines, producing 67,000,000 oz. of silver, 440,000 oz. of gold and 190 million lbs., of copper.  Other mining discoveries followed.

Dolf was always engaged and curious, his hand lends and rock pick never far from reach.  The meticulous maps and reports he produced as an exploration geologist are cited by his peers in several professional journals because of their quality and accuracy.  In nominating Dolf for the American Institute of Mining & Metallurgical Engineers' "Jackling Award", Tom Congdon, his partner of many years, said of him: "Most geologists…try to prove a preconceived theory.  Dolf (had) the intellectual discipline to let the facts loose and follow them wherever they might lead."  His colleague, David Dudley, who worked with Dolf in Florida on an "oil play," recently sent this touching tribute: "It is no exaggeration to say that working with Dolf on the Florida play informed my own perceptions of the earth, and to this day I must ask myself 'why' a landscape is the way it is.  By any measure, he was a gifted teacher."

Dolf's love of the outdoors, music, good novels, and a good Bloody Mary enriched all of our lives.  Ice skating on Pactolus Lake, The new World Symphony, Neil Diamond, and the writing of Alan Furst and H. L. Mencken were particular favorites; oh, and his daughter Glenn's lemon meringue pie!  He cherished summers with his family working on another mining project, "Gem Park," in Westcliffe, Colorado, where we watched him on the drill platform or helped getting core samples ready for shipment in the core shack.  It was here that he especially enjoyed fly fishing in the Trinity River with his son, Saul.  He was happiest checking out an interesting rock formation on a hill or one he spied at the side of the road and was always willing to explain it in detail to any and all.  He made a mean matzo ball, and Passover will not be the same without his rendition of "One Kid, One Kid."  He insisted that all his children know how to fix their own cars bgefore they drove one.  Until his last two years he had an amazing memory and was a marvelous storyteller.  He had a sly sense of humor, could be merciless tease, and was notorious as an adept thief of pomegranate seeds. Dad, we miss you.

Dolf met his soulmate Dolores in Denver in 1973; together they traveled the country by car, making many fond memories, finding unique places to stay, and forging lasting friendships with people they met along the way.  They moved to Palo Alto, California, in 1981 and Dolf continued his geology career by consulting for Coca Mines, Ltd. to bring into production another silver mine "Cactus" in central California.  In 1997 they moved to Vero Beach, Florida to be closer to Dolores's family and at the same time Dolf worked with David Dudley on the "oil play" in central Florida; unfortunately this never came into production and Dolf officially retired.  He enjoyed riding his bike around the neighborhood, as well as to the tennis courts (he had a wicked backhand), always with a wave and a smile.  He was "Mr. Fixit" to many and helped with chores in the community.  He enjoyed visits from friends and especially his children—he took each one on fishing or canoe trips on the Indian River Lagoon.  Always the gentleman, he hid his light under a basket.  To those who knew him, he was a shining example of a good man.

The Fieldmans, especially Dolores, are profoundly greatful to the VNA Private Care "TEAM" for the unwavering comfort and loving care devoted to Dolf for the past two years.  THANK YOU: William, Kelly, Yashika, Norma, Marjorie, Thelma, Jodie, and Hannah.

S.T. Coleridge said it best…"How well he fell asleep…like some proud river, widenting toward the sea; calmly and grandly, silently and deep, life joined eternity."  He was my Husband, my Friend, my Soulmate.  He gave me many things I will hold close: strength, loyalty, love, and most of all, himself.  'Til we meet again, I will love and cherish our memories.

Gatherings in Denver and Vero Beach are planned to celebrate Dolf's life.

Kindly think of making a donation in Dolf's memory to: The Scholarship Fund, U. of Montana, P.O. Box 7159, Missoula, MT 59807; or VNA, Private Care, 1110 35 ^th Lane, Vero Beach, FL 32960 or to a charity of your choice.