Remembering Karinjo Devore
Founder and longtime president of the Aspen International Mountain Foundation
November 27, 1949 - July 20, 2026
With profound sadness and deep gratitude, the Aspen International Mountain Foundation remembers Karinjo DeVore, our beloved founder, longtime president, colleague, and friend.
Karinjo was the heart and soul of AIMF. A tireless advocate for the world's mountains and the communities that call them home, she brought extraordinary passion, curiosity, and determination to a lifetime of work connecting people, cultures, and ideas.
Her vision helped shape AIMF from its beginnings in 2001. She believed that the challenges facing mountain communities—environmental, economic, and social—could best be addressed through cooperation, mutual understanding, and a shared commitment to a sustainable future. Through her leadership, AIMF became a voice in the international mountain community and an active participant in the United Nations Mountain Partnership.
Karinjo's work took her around the world, where she built lasting relationships with people from vastly different backgrounds, united by their concern for mountain environments and the people who depend upon them. She had a remarkable ability to bring people together, to see possibilities where others saw obstacles, and to turn ideas into action.
Among her many accomplishments was helping bring the Sixth Global Meeting of the United Nations Mountain Partnership to Aspen in 2022—an achievement that reflected both her international relationships and her deep connection the mountain community she called home.
Yet those who knew Karinjo will remember far more than her professional accomplishments.
We will remember her warmth, her irrepressible curiosity, her generous spirit, and her determination to make a difference. We will remember her enthusiasm for new ideas, her gift for friendship, and the energy she brought to every conversation and undertaking.
Karinjo made people feel that their voices mattered and that meaningful change was possible. Her friendships crossed continents and generations, and the community she helped create extended far beyond the boundaries of any single organization.
For those of us privileged to work alongside her, Karinjo was more than a leader. She was a cherished friend and constant inspiration. Her passing leaves an enormous void, but also an extraordinary legacy of relationships, accomplishments, and shared purpose.
As AIMF moves forward, we do so with deep gratitude for all that Karinjo gave us and with a commitment to continuing the work she cared about so passionately.
Her vision will continue to guide us, her friendships will continue to connect us, and her spirit will remain an enduring part of AIMF.
We will miss her dearly, and we will carry her legacy forward.
With love and gratitude,
The Board of Directors
Aspen International Mountain Foundation