Beloved park ranger dies in Bryce Canyon accident

He began his work with the National Park Service back in 1968. His service included 14 National Park Units. Perhaps it was fitting that Ranger Tom Lorig’s life ended while he was on duty, serving park visitors in Utah’s Bryce Canyon. The beloved park ranger was 78.

Working late, serving others

Bryce Canyon was hosting its annual astronomy festival, and Tom Lorig was putting in a late day. At 11:30 at night, last Friday, June 7, Tom was directing visitors to a shuttle bus when he fell, striking his head on a large rock. A visitor found him unresponsive and quickly called for help. Park rangers, bystanders with medical training, and other first responders rushed to help. Sadly, nothing could be done to save the 78-year-old Lorig.

“Tom Lorig served Bryce Canyon, the National Park Service, and the public as an interpretive park ranger, forging connections between the world and these special places that he loved,” said Park Superintendent Jim Ireland. “As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorig’s family and friends. We also want to express gratitude to the National Park Service and Garfield County emergency services staff who responded, as well as to the bystanders who assisted NPS first responders.”

Beloved park ranger had long history of serving others

Serving people was Tom Lorig’s life. A major Seattle newspaper fittingly picked up the story. Fitting, as Tom served others for 40 years as a Registered Nurse in the Seattle, Washington, area. His “after nursing” life ran for more than 10 years as a permanent, seasonal, and volunteer park ranger.

He began his work with the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in June of 1968. In the decades that followed, he would serve at 14 national park sites, including Badlands, Bryce Canyon, Carlsbad Caverns, El Malpais, Florissant Fossil Beds, Glen Canyon, Klondike Gold Rush, Mount Rainier, New River Gorge, Olympic, Saguaro, Yosemite, Zion, and Dinosaur National Monument, of which he was especially fond.

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