The Durango community continues to show support for the family of Marine Capt. Jeff Kuss, the Blue Angels pilot who died June 2 in a crash.
Local business 425° Take and Bake Pizza, in Elmore’s Corner Store, donated 100 percent of the proceeds from its sales Monday toward the Kuss family’s GoFundMe account, a total of $1,270, said co-owner Michael Gunn.
He said the endeavor was prompted by his respect for veterans and active military personnel and the response of the community to Kuss’ death.
“It’s the least we could do,” he said, noting that some people who weren’t buying pizza also donated.
“I’m just real happy how well it went and how we were able to do that for the family,” Gunn said.
Kroegers ACE Hardware also is gathering donations for the Kuss family.
The hardware store is running a round-up program through Monday in which customers are given the option to round their purchase up to the nearest dollar. Funds generated will go to the Kuss Family Memorial Fund at the Bank of the San Juans, said Joel Krueger, owner of Kroegers.
The business runs several round-up programs each year and projects that donations will reach $2,500, which they plan to partially match.
“I want to be clear that we’re not the one that’s actually putting the money in, it’s the people of Durango who are contributing,” Krueger said.
The Durango Chamber of Commerce has a donation jar at its office on south Camino del Rio, said executive director Jack Llewellyn. Donations will be contributed to the memorial fund at the Bank of the San Juans, a fund established by Kuss’ sister-in-law, Nicole Perino, Llewellyn said.
In conjunction with the Chamber of Commerce, Durango Olive Oil Co. distributed flags and ribbons last week that were donated by the company and tied throughout the town to show respect for Kuss and his family, owner Cherie Morris said in an email. On Saturday, a motorcade through downtown to Greenmount Cemetery and a public reception at Fort Lewis College for the family drew hundreds of residents.
“We have an incredible caring, giving community,” Morris said, “which was so evident this past week.”
Also, Fort Lewis College has established a scholarship in Kuss’ honor designed to financially assist veterans and children of military personnel, said Mark Jastorff, vice-president of Institutional Advancement for FLC. Kuss was a 2006 FLC graduate.
“This is a way to help veterans who are in financial need or the children of military at the Fort, and that’s a noble cause right there,” Jastorff said.
“We are honored and pleased that Fort Lewis College is in a position to celebrate Jeff’s life this way.”
Luke Perkins is a student at Fort Lewis College and an Intern at The Durango Herald. Reach him at lukep@durangoherald.com.
