The Eagle County coroner’s office on Monday identified the 2 1/2-year-old boy who drowned in a fast-flowing creek near Vail on Sunday as Colin Cassidy, the son of Sara Cassidy, director of public affairs for the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Sara Cassidy is also a former Edgewater City Council president.
The toddler was on a walk with his mother along a path parallel to Gore Creek when he went missing Sunday morning.
His mother had been distracted tending to his younger sister, Alexandria, and no one saw Colin enter the creek, according to the Vail Police Department.
Investigators said Monday that Sara Cassidy called 911 at 9:55 a.m. Sunday and said her son was missing.
Colin’s body was pulled from the creek 22 minutes later by a construction worker about a mile downstream, east of the Cascade Resort.
Sara and Chris Cassidy had taken their children along on a trip to Vail for a lacrosse tournament.
Joe Blake, president and chief executive of the Denver Metro Chamber, sent a statement to chamber members Monday.
“Last night, when I was with Sara and Chris and we were in Colin’s room, I saw a sign over his door, which helped capture the total love and devotion of these remarkable parents: ‘Love to the Moon and Back,’ ” he said. “That is all we can give right now, even though we want to do so much more.”
Sara Cassidy served on the council from 2002 to 2007, including two years as council president. She is involved in city events and community organizations as well.
Edgewater Mayor Bonnie McNulty said she was deeply saddened by the news.
“My heart goes out to the family; no person should ever have to lose a child,” she said. “It happened so fast. It’s nothing for which a parent can ever prepare.”
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or jbunch@denverpost.com
