Fugate
Greg Fugate loved exploring the wilderness and documenting what he found through the lens of his camera.
The director of communications and quality assurance for the Colorado state auditor’s office, Fugate died of complications from pancreatic cancer on Nov. 7. He was 50.
Fugate served on the executive committee of the National Legislative Program Evaluation Society from 2009-18 serving as chair in 2016-17; served on the Legislative Staff Coordinating Committee from 2015-17; and was a member of the NCSL Executive Committee in 2017-18 and 2018-19. He presented at numerous NLPES webinars and conferences, participated in multiple peer reviews of NLPES member offices and helped to plan and host the NLPES professional development seminar in Denver, in 2015.
The final post on the Facebook page dedicated to his photography read, “Live with purpose. Act with honesty, integrity, and compassion for others. Recognize the natural beauty that surrounds you every day.”
“Greg was a shining example of leadership, dedication and service in our field. His work and his memory will continue to provide inspiration to myself and others,” says Jon Courtney, deputy director of the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee.
In September he took a final trip, writing, “Today was a perfect day. I’m back in my beloved Utah desert, camping and hiking with my brothers.” He hiked with them to Delicate Arch and the Colorado River overlook at Dead Horse Point State Park.
Greg Allen Fugate was born Leadville, Colo., and grew up in Idaho Springs. He earned a bachelor’s degree from Knox College and a master’s degree from the University of Colorado.
In an interview with CanvasRebel, a magazine for artists and entrepreneurs, he discussed his passion for photography:
“For me, the most rewarding aspect of pursuing landscape photography as an artistic and creative endeavor comes from the experience of exploring the natural places that I visit. Getting out into nature allows me to slow down and calm my mind, recharge, and, most importantly, connect with a greater sense of belonging and purpose.”
Kiernan McGorty, organizational development manager at the North Carolina General Assembly, says she always looked forward to catching up with Fugate at work events. “He cared about advancing the work, but more importantly he genuinely cared about the people doing the work,” she says. “His patience and perseverance to keep tackling nuanced problems was inspiring, but what I’ll miss most is his enthusiasm, humor and empathy.”
Lisa Kieffer, a director in the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts, saw Fugate as “a beacon of inspiration and a guiding light” in his work in support of the legislative institution. “His contagious passion, sense of humor, and the generous way he shared his insights and knowledge ensures he will have a lasting impact on those of us lucky enough to have known and learned from him.”
Mark Wolf is a senior editor at NCSL.