Page 35 - October 2020 proof - The Castle Pines Connection

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and charitable giving
Complementing their big lives, the Linigers have even bigger hearts. Both are graduates from Craig Hospital, a world-renowned rehabilitation hospital specializing in neurorehabilitation and research. In 1983, a mere week before the couple was to be married, Gail was involved in a plane crash and suffered a traumatic brain injury that permanently disabled her left side. She was in
a coma and subsequently spent ve months recovering at Craig.
In 2012, Dave contracted a staph infection that landed him in a coma and left him a quadriplegic. Both were told by doctors that they may never walk again, and both overcame the odds. Having received rst-hand experience from the rehabilitation done at Craig, the Linigers are now premier philanthropists for the hospital and support the hard work and miracles that the doctors, nurses and staff help their patients perform daily. In 2015, the bridge that connects Craig Hospital’s east and west buildings was formally dedicated and renamed the “Liniger Bridge to Independence.”
Dave and Gail are passionate supporters of Craig Hospital, where they have both received care.
Last year, Craig, in recognition for all that the Linigers have done and continue to do for the organization, nominated the couple for the Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Philanthropy Day
in Colorado. Mary Feller, former executive director for the Craig Hospital Foundation, said
Dave and Gail Liniger with their faithful companion, Max, at their home in The Village at Castle Pines. Max has been Dave’s service dog for nearly a decade and goes everywhere with the Linigers. According to Dave, “Max has traveled on private jets and yachts and has been to some of the nest restaurants in the world.”
process would be.” In addition to carving out three military days each year where only combat veterans from all branches of the military can play, the couple typically selects from organizations bene ting the arts, children and healthcare. The charities raise substantial funds at Sanctuary tournaments; events have generated more than $110 million in contributions since the course opened in 1997.
Both preservationists, the Linigers co-founded The Wildlife Experience in 2002. As avid wildlife conservationists, they envisioned the museum as an educational opportunity to alert others of the need to be stalwart stewards of the land. Located in Parker, the cultural and educational center is home to an extensive collection of wildlife art and taxidermy, including pieces from the Linigers’ personal collection. In 2014, the couple donated the museum to the University of Colorado. Now, in addition to the museum, there are classrooms and labs offering degrees, graduate certi cates and credit-bearing courses.
Dave’s passion for the military and law enforcement runs deep. He purchased the CNN Warrior One Hummer (seen on the TV show Overhaulin’) and used it to tour the country and raise money for The Fisher House, a charity and foundation that builds homes for military and veteran families to stay free of charge while a loved one is in the hospital.
Currently, the Linigers are partnering with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Of ce (DCSO) to build out the Liniger Emergency Vehicle Operations Center. It opened in 2017 to provide
emergency responders a place to
that what the Linigers have done for Craig and the hospital’s staff goes above and beyond. “They are a couple who is dedicated to Colorado and who have done so much for the community through their philanthropic giving,” she continued.
In 1993, Dave took up golf. Gail, not to be left behind, did too. “I wasn’t going to become a golf widow,” she proclaimed. The couple had purchased a piece of land nearby for their internationally- renowned horse enterprise, but instead of establishing a ranch on the property, decided to build a golf course.
“There have been many rumors over the years about why I built that golf course,” said Dave in jest, “none of which were true.” In 1996, Dave met with his friend Jim Engh (award-winning master golf course designer), and together they designed and built Sanctuary golf course – for Gail. Dave took Engh, a six pack of beer and
a bucket of balls up to the ridge where Sanctuary sits today, and together they hit balls and imagined what they could build.
“The rugged terrain up there didn’t make it easy,” said Engh, “but Dave and I talked a lot about it; he wanted to ensure Gail could play it.” Engh took careful consideration to not only create a course that would be fun for Gail and her signature one-arm golf swing, but
to also maximize the topography and natural beauty of the land, which is bordered on all sides by Daniels Park. “One of the most inspirational things I’ve ever seen in the game of golf is playing with Gail,” Engh said. “I remember one time she hit a 112 using one arm – purely out of determination and joy for the game. It was humbling to me,” he recalled.
Dave said that building the course was a great accomplishment and admitted that, in some respects, for him, it was more fun to build than to play. Dave and Gail are the only members of the private course. Although Gail doesn’t hit the greens as often as she would like, she still cherishes her hole-in-one that she made gol ng at Sanctuary.
In the philanthropic spirit, the Linigers make Sanctuary available for a limited number of charity events every year. The couple hand selects the participating organizations from hundreds of applicants. “It’s hard work choosing,” said Gail. “There are so many wonderful organizations, and we learned early on how dif cult the selection
hone their driving skills under challenging road conditions;
a cause close to his heart, as Dave has been a DCSO reserve for 20 years.
Nearly a half century later and with countless adventures and stories to
tell, Dave and Gail playfully laugh
and say that although Dave is the published author in the house, whoever is left at the end of their greatest adventure together will have the luxury of
writing the book and telling the untold stories.
Bronze buffalo at Sanctuary