Dale Thomas Severance

Dale was born on November 4, 1941, in Raymond, New Hampshire, where he attended Raymond High School. He studied business in Boston and had a long career in higher education administration there and in Boulder. From 1962 to 1977, he worked at Boston University as Bursar and Associate Registrar. From 1977 to 2002, he worked at the University of Colorado, Boulder, serving as Associate Registrar, Director of Family Housing, Director of the University Club, and Director of Off-Campus Student Services. Dale’s proudest professional accomplishment was implementing the two universities’ first student information systems, revolutionizing student records and class registration by computerizing them.

Although Dale moved from New England to Colorado in the 1970s and wintered in Scottsdale, Arizona, for the past 20 years, he remained a Yankee and a “proper Bostonian” his whole life. He had a passion for entertaining and collecting silver. He and his wife Sally are known for their wonderful dinner and cocktail parties, including elegant Christmas parties in Boulder and annual spam and St. Patrick’s Day parties in Scottsdale.

Dale travelled extensively all over the world, including serving as Registrar on Semester at Sea in the fall semester of 1979. He eventually visited every continent. Dale was famous for his eggs benedict and for always helping those in need. He will be remembered for his Boston accent, which got thicker when he enjoyed a glass of Jim Beam, and for the joy and support he brought to his family and friends and thousands of students and colleagues over the years.

Dale was preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Caroline Severance, his brother Richard Severance, and his sister Susan Davis. He is survived by his wife Sally, his sons Arthur and Alan Severance and his stepsons Kevin and Greg Merrell, their spouses Albert Paoletti, Lisa Klink, Margaret Chong, and Melissa Kacena, six grandchildren, David, Sydney, Ethan, Nicholas, Andrew, and Connor, his sisters Edna Berry, Janet Berube, and Glenna Dunphy, and many nieces and nephews.

A public memorial service will be held on Sunday, March 13, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. at Crist Mortuary, 3395 Penrose Place, Boulder, CO 80301. A private interment ceremony will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the University of Colorado at giving.cu.edu or to the charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caringbridge.org/visit/daleseverance.