Roger A. Smith

Roger A. Smith passed away on November 1, 2013 after a ten year battle with Alzheimer's. He is survived by his wife Cathy of 46 years, son Evan (married to Katie), grandchildren Owen and Bennett, two brothers, Charles Smith and Steve Downing, and several nieces and nephews.

Roger was a native of Auburn, New York and always considered Owasco Lake his home. He graduated from Florida State University. He enjoyed a long career in the tourism industry, working for more than 16 years as a regional director of sales for Sonesta International Hotels and Westin Hotels before spending four years as vice president of convention marketing at from the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau. He then served as president of the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau (now VISIT DENVER) from 1984 to 1993. The last 10 years of his career he was the CEO of the Pasadena Civic Center Operating Company. He and Cathy retired to the Tucson Arizona area in 2006 and moved back to Denver in 2012, where he enjoyed his spending time with his family, especially his two grandsons. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him. A memorial service will be held Wednesday November 13 at 2:00pm at Hope United Methodist Church 5105 S. Dayton Street Greenwood Village, CO 80111. The family requests that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association at http://act.alz.org/goto/Roger_A_Smith.