Dena Joyce Schwartz

Dena was born on April 11th, 1953 to Irving and Doris Schwartz in The Bronx, NY. After graduating Cum Laude from SUNY at Brockport, she went on to earn a Master’s Degree with honors from The Ohio State University majoring in Dance.

Always moving to her own rhythm, her talents and passion for dance led her to a rewarding career teaching dance at Naropa University and the Community Free School in Boulder. Dena found great fulfillment in her dance career, however, her proudest achievement was as a devoted and loving wife and mother.

Dena and Neil married in Queens, NY, bought a Volkswagen bus and found greater love and greater meaning to their lives in Boulder, CO, where they lived and remained married for forty-five remarkable years. Their son, Ian, was Dena’s most cherished and beloved gift.

Dena is survived by her husband Neil Schwartz, her son Ian Schwartz, and daughter in law Stephanie Schwartz; her brother David Schwartz and niece Debby Schwartz; her brother Michael Schwartz and his wife Karla Wishy and her sister Eileen Schwartz, as well as many wonderful life-long friends. She is preceded in death by her parents, Irving and Doris Schwartz and her brother Harvey Schwartz.

Dena’s legacy will live on in the hearts and minds of everyone she came into contact with. She will especially be remembered for her caring, compassion, and free-spirit. Her contagious smile and warm and kind aura were attributes that made her loved by all. Always seeking balance, always in sync, her lovely and loving life was a dance that ended too soon.

A funeral service is scheduled for 11:00 a.m. on Monday, March 14th, 2022 at Mountain View Memorial Park. Chaplain Nalini Kaplan will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.cristmortuary.com for the Schwartz family.