Rebecca Anne Conzelman

Mrs. Rebecca Anne (Menchhofer) Conzelman, of Littleton, CO, born December 4, 1971 in Bethesda, MD to Gary Edwin Menchhofer and Beverly (Streight) Menchhofer, passed away at age 47 on April 6, 2019, in Naples, FL, eight days after the sudden rupture of a previously unidentified brain aneurysm. She graduated from Miami University (Ohio) in 1994 and was a member of Delta Gamma. Rebecca married her husband, Lieutenant Commander James G. Conzelman III, USN, Retired, on May 26, 1996 in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she grew up.

Athletics and competition remained a passion throughout Becky’s life. She competed in soccer, swimming, diving, track and basketball. While a student at Miami University (Ohio), she competed in her first triathlon and a few races for the “Flyers” cycling team.

After marrying Jim and moving to Oahu, Hawaii in 1996, she began racing more competitively in triathlon and road cycling. She then raced professionally on the road for three years (1999-2002) before shifting her focus to track cycling. She competed internationally for the U.S. National Cycling Team from 2002-2005 including two UCI World Championships, won three National titles, and pursued a life-long dream of representing the U.S. in the Olympics. After a heart breaking series of events, which included arbitration with USA Cycling, she did not make the Olympic team.

Scripture resonated with her as she meditated on Proverbs 19:21: “Many are the plans of a man’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” That summer of the 2004 Olympics, she was volunteering at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes sports camp (after founding the FCA Lehigh Valley Area) and sharing her story with a friend. The friend looked at her with determined eyes and said, “It’s not your time.” Becky was frustrated and baffled – “what do you mean it’s not my time? I am 32 years old, I’m not training another four years, and I’m about to have kids.”

In August, 2009, after having two children, Kylie and Tyler, and training minimally for the previous four years, she was eager to bring the athletic side of her life back. She heard about CrossFit from a trainer at a Gold’s Gym who convinced her to try it out. Her first day at Outlaw CrossFit, owner, Rudy Nielsen, asked, “Do you like it?” She replied, “Not sure.” She wasn’t sure she wanted to work that hard again and reenter the competitive world, because she knew it was all or nothing for her. Rudy said, “This will become your sport.” She laughed at the time, but he was right!

City Gates Church pastor, Jeff Schlenz, once said just like Jacob in Genesis 32, sometimes we need to wrestle with God before we can enter the Promised Land. Becky was thankful that the Lord not only blessed her with loving and supportive family and friends, but also physically allowed her to compete in five CrossFit Games, placing 14th in 2012 in the women’s elite division at the age of 40!

For Becky, competition was a form of worship, albeit painful at times. Eric Liddell once said, “I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast! And when I run I feel his pleasure.” To which Becky said, “Whether I am on the podium, or finish last, when I remain focused on God and give my all, as Christ gave His all for me, the victory has already been won, and He deserves all the glory!”

Becky’s Celebration of Life was held on April 13, 2019 at BackCountry CrossFit. Videos of the service and more details about her life can be found on her athlete page on Facebook. Those who wish may donate in Rebecca’s name to FAITH RXD, the global ministry uniting faith and fitness she co-founded in June, 2013, with her husband Jim, and Chip Pugh: https://faithrxd.org/support. FAITH RXD perfectly represents what she was most passionate about and strove hardest to achieve.

Becky was a successful organ donor, enhancing numerous lives with sight and health. In addition to her parents, children and husband, Becky is also survived by her siblings, Troy Menchhofer and Courtney Beliveau, step-father Michael Beliveau, step-mother Terri Menchhofer, grandmother, Jeanne Wahle and numerous other friends and relatives.