Dr. Fred Distelhorst: An Early Supporter’s Legacy Spans Into the Future

The first time Dr. Fred Distelhorst visited Colorado was as a high schooler with a group of friends who drove across the country from their hometown of Madison, Wisconsin; they were determined to see the world's longest chairlift in Aspen. While visiting, Dr. Distelhorst also learned how to ski. Many years later, at age 95, you might still see him making his way down the slopes.

After serving in the military as a dentist in Korea and later an orthodontist in Germany, Dr. Distelhorst permanently returned to Colorado—this time with his wife, Ines, whom he met while in Germany. He set out to start an orthodontic practice at his home in East Vail.

From a Small Clinic to a World-Renowned Hospital

“In the early days, there was only a little clinic with an X-ray machine,” says Dr. Distelhorst. “Some of the breaks on the mountain were pretty severe, and it was a long two-or-more-hour drive to Denver. So when Dr. Jack Eck started gathering money to build a hospital, I started donating.”

Dr. Distelhorst became friends with Dr. Eck, one of Vail’s first doctors and integral to fundraising for the community’s first full-service hospital. Over the past 35 years, Dr. Distelhorst has watched the incredible growth of the Vail Health system.

A Legacy of Giving

Dr. Distelhorst has been a generous supporter of Vail Health for many years. He shares that from when he was a child, his father taught him that regardless of how much money you make, always save 10 percent of your earnings so you can give back to charity.

This habit has allowed him to engage in philanthropy in meaningful ways. Now retired, his legacy will continue far into the future by including Vail Health in his will.

“It’s amazing what we have here—a beautiful hospital with so many highly trained specialists,” Dr. Distelhorst says. “People come from all over the world to be treated here.”

Learn more about how you can impact Vail Health and enhance community care now and for years to come, just as Dr. Distelhorst did, by contacting Aaron Ciszek at 970.569.7574 or aaronc@vailhealth.org or Anne Walters at 970.569.7648 or anne.walters@vailhealth.org.