Early Bird

In memoriam

Nutrition graduate Aaron Wiener used his education to serve countless members of the Denver community.

By Lindsey Coulter

April 28, 2020

Aaron Wiener, a 2014 graduate of Metropolitan State University of Denver, died this month at age 30. Wiener was honored in a massive memorial procession past his family’s home April 25, and many Roadrunners attended to share their condolences.

Wiener’s MSU Denver educators and mentors remember him as a bright, friendly and motivated student who often rode his skateboard into classes. While a student, he served the campus as a peer nutrition counselor and educator and volunteered for Hunger Free Colorado. There, he helped initiate a pilot program dedicated to connecting older adults with adequate nutrition. He also volunteered with Swedish Medical Center’s Meal Pals program, where he received hands-on clinical experience in a multi-trauma unit serving the dietary needs of patients with brain and spinal-cord injuries.

After graduating, Wiener used his nutrition degree to complete a dietetic internship at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, where he focused on outpatient wellness, home-based primary care, food-service systems management and more. After becoming a registered dietitian, he joined Craig Hospital and continued his work with patients who had spinal-cord injuries.

Wiener was also passionate about spending time in the great outdoors and was an avid skier. Though experienced in navigating backcountry terrain, Wiener died from injuries sustained in an avalanche on the Red Peak Massif near Silverthorne on April 15.

For those wishing to honor Wiener, more details will be available soon.