Dana Knee

Dana Robert Knee was born in Espanola on April 6th, 1950. He died at his home in Ojo Caliente on August 3rd, 2021. Dana grew up in Santa Fe. He was the son of Elizabeth Rosser Knee and renowned photographer and woodworker,  Ernest Knee.

From a young age Dana worked in his father’s woodshop making fine hand-built doors. Many of these can still be found in homes around Santa Fe. He admired his father, both as a craftsman and a photographer,  and Dana became a skilled darkroom technician in order to support and promote Ernest’s photography. He wrote a book entitled “Ernest Knee in New Mexico” that showcases Ernest’s work.

Dana went on to become a skilled woodworker. He built and designed meticulously hand-carved furniture, doors, and cabinets. He also built houses, including one of the first in Santa Fe to be entirely off-grid. He used passive solar heat, solar voltaic cells and even an early model wind turbine generator to power his first eco-friendly home in the ‘80’s. 

Dana was committed to sustainable practices on the land. He planted an orchard that produces hundreds of apples yearly. He was a skilled gardener who grew much of his own food. He regularly visited neighbors to collect animal manure for reuse, thus solving a neighbor’s problems while also producing glorious tomato harvests. His clever use of greenhouses enabled him to heat his home as well as produce food throughout winter.

Dana was a handy person who could build or fix almost anything. He taught himself to design websites and created an ambitious virtual index of artists called Art World. 

He cared deeply about his friends and family. He is survived by daughters Feather Knee and Sasha Dana Ryerson, his son Dylan Rapheal Knee, his grandson, Fernando Ezekiel Granados Ryerson, and brothers Ernest Rosser Knee and Eric Knee. He is acutely missed by those left behind and his spirit carries on in those he loved.

A small family burial service will be held in Santa Fe at the Rivera Cemetery.  A larger memorial and celebration of Dana’s life will follow in the next few months. 

Mr. Knee's Family has entrusted Rivera Family Funeral Home of Espanola with the care of their loved one.