Edward Grange, Holy Cross Energy General Manager, Dies at 98

Glenwood Springs —What happens to a valley when the man who brought it electricity decides to leave it?

Edward Grange didn’t just flip a switch in the Roaring Fork Valley. He lived the gamble. He grew up on a ranch near Basalt with no electricity, riding a horse to school alongside his brother Leo, yet he became the architect of the power grid that now hums behind every home in the valley. He died July 18, 2026, at age 98, peaceful and surrounded by family at home.

The Post Independent reported the details of a life that spanned from Aosta, Italy, to the high country of Colorado. His parents, Peter and Virginia, immigrated here, settling into a potato-farming and wine-making existence that required hard labor and deep community ties. Ed carried those ties with him. He fostered connections with the Italian community in the Valley, maintaining friendships that lasted a lifetime. But his professional legacy is etched into the very infrastructure locals take for granted.

He studied mathematics at Western State College in Gunnison and earned a master’s degree from the University of Colorado – Boulder. It was there he met Lorraine Zelnick. They married June 16, 1951. They stayed together just shy of 60 years, until Lorraine died March 11, 11 years before him. Together, they raised a family and became active members of St. Stephen Catholic Church, where Ed served as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, lector, and usher.

But the part everyone skips past is the work. Ed worked for Holy Cross Energy. He started as a summer intern. He ended as General Manager for 13 years. He did nearly every job in between — bookkeeper, clerk, office manager. He played a pivotal role in bringing power to the newly opened Vail Resort in 1962. It was a gamble. He often said it “paid off.” For a kid who grew up in the dark, that was no small feat.

After retiring, he didn’t stop working. He spent 17 years as a consultant for HCE. He also authored the history of the organization, titled Holy Cross Electric: In the Beginning, the First 30 Years. He documented the Grange and Zelnick families. He recorded family stories. He held a video camera in his hand, commenting on snowfall and whether or not it was a “bright sunny day.”

In Fulford, Colorado, he and Lorraine built a legacy. They built a cabin. They chopped wood. They played cards. They lived in the beautiful Rocky Mountains.

Ed Grange was a member of the Knights of Columbus for 75 years. He served as Grand Knight for three years. He served as treasurer for 41 years. That’s a long time to hold the books for a community.

Now, the lights stay on. The power flows. The history is written. But the man who started it all, the kid from the no-electricity ranch, is gone.