Robert Bob Winokur

Bob Winokur, loving husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully at home in Estes Park on March 27, 2015. He was comforted by his wife and sons when mesothelioma cancer took his life, shortly after his 67th birthday.

Bob was born to Morris and Muriel (Silverstein) Winokur on March 6, 1948, in New York City. The son of a college professor, academics were central to Bob’s life. He graduated high school at age 16 from Stuyvesant, a specialized accelerated-learning institution in Manhattan. He then attended City College of New York, where he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science, and he completed his Master’s Degree program in Journalism and Communications at Syracuse University, graduating in 1969. It was at Syracuse that he met his future wife, when their mutual acquaintance and lifelong friend to be, Pam Wilson, invited them both to a dinner party. Upon meeting Bob that first night and hearing his Bronx accent, the pretty Midwestern girl named Christine asked him “Where do you come from?” He replied, “United States, where do you come from?” The rest was history.

Bob and Chris married on September 11, 1971 in Columbus, Ohio, where Bob had taken a job following graduate school. The newlyweds spent three years in Ohio before they followed their hearts to the beauty of the Rocky Mountains. They moved to Denver in 1974 to begin a 28-year residence in the Centennial State, during which their family welcomed three sons: Jason, Michael, and Adam. While in Denver, Bob worked as a Public Relations Assistant at National Jewish Hospital, and then as Public Information Specialist at Lowry Air Force Base. The family relocated to Fort Collins in 1977, where Bob began his 19-year career as an information management specialist at the U.S. Forest Service’s Rocky Mountain Research Station. In 1987 Bob ran for a seat on Fort Collins City Council, and after a hard fought campaign which included door-to-door canvassing with the whole family, Bob was elected and served for the next seven years. In 1989, the Council elected him as Mayor for a one-year term. During his time on Council, Bob also held positions as Chairman of the Poudre Fire Authority, Director of the Platte River Power Authority, Chairman of the Finance Committee, and as member of several other leagues and committees.

Outside of work, Bob enjoyed several hobbies and interests. His most cherished activity was taking his family to Estes Park to visit Chris’s mother Gene. The peaceful mountain town became the Winokurs’ welcome escape from the busy Front Range and the frequent hubbub of local politics. Bob loved picnicking and camping in majestic Rocky Mountain National Park, where he delighted in sharing his love of the Colorado outdoors with his sons. Bob also spent time outside of work fly-fishing, playing computer games, solving the NY Times Crossword, and taking family vacations to places like Jamaica, Canada, Mexico, California, and Maine, as well as both Disneyland and Disney World. Bob and Chris remained in Colorado until they had seen all three boys off to college, and they decided it was time for a change of scenery.

Having explored the coast of the Pacific Northwest by R.V. for several summers, Bob and Chris opted to retire there full-time. They moved to Coos Bay, Oregon in 2002, where Bob spent time visiting the botanical gardens of Shore Acres, flying kites on the beach, and enjoying the many colorful sunsets over the Pacific Ocean. He kept the R.V. though, and found time for road trips to National Parks across the U.S. and Canada, including Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Teton, Olympic, Glacier, Banff, and Jasper. Bob’s wanderlust extended beyond North America too. With Chris by his side, he visited Italy, Spain, Portugal, Morocco, Israel, the Canary Islands, and Bob’s favorite by far New Zealand. He felt blessed at having the opportunity to see the beauty and grandeur of so much of God’s creation.

After their grandson was born in 2007, Bob and Chris decided to move back to Colorado part time. Happy memories of spending time in Estes Park with their own children prompted them to settle there upon their return. In 2010 their granddaughter was born, giving “Papa” and “Maui” further reason to spend the majority of their time in Estes. They nonetheless traveled back and forth frequently, taking advantage of the best both states had to offer, and sharing the joys of each place with their sons and their grandchildren.

The only thing in Bob’s life more important to him than Family was his faith in God. He was a devout Catholic who attended church regularly, prayed often, and thanked God for the many blessings he received. He lived and exemplified his Catholic faith every day, as evidenced in his marriage, his relationship with his children and grandchildren, his friendships, and his unwavering acceptance of God’s love and God’s plan for him.

Bob is survived by Chris, his wife and partner of 43 years; sons Jason (Meghan) of Carbondale, Colo.; Michael of Yonkers, NY; and Adam of Arvada, Colo.; and grandchildren Thatcher and Genevieve. Bob also leaves behind brother Peter of New York, NY; nieces Mara of Hoboken, NJ; Rachel of Queens, NY; and Nicole of Boulder, Colo; and nephew Ryan of Brooklyn, NY. Bob was preceded in death by his mother Muriel and father Morris; brother Stephen; and beloved friend Pete Cunningham.

Visitation will be held at 5-7 p.m. with a Rosary to follow Tue. Mar. 31, at Allnutt Hunter Chapel, 2100 N. Lincoln Ave. in Loveland. Father Joseph Hartmann will say the Funeral Mass at 12 p.m. Wed. Apr. 1, at Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church, 920 Big Thompson Ave. in Estes Park.

Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Estes Valley (970.586.2273; 555 Prospect Ave. Estes Park, CO 80517), Our Lady of the Mountains Catholic Church (970.586.8111; http://www.olmestes.org/fundraising.html), and/or The Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (http://www.curemeso.org).