Leo Louis Beserra

Leo was born to Nora and Leo Beserra Senior in California on July 28, 1941. After moving around the country with his brothers, Rudy and Richard, and sister, LeNore, the family settled in Colorado Springs.

In 1959 Leo graduated from Cheyenne Mountain High School. Leo loved sports and was a three-sport varsity athlete in high school, playing football, basketball, and baseball. He and the baseball team won the state championship his senior year. His love for strategy and math led him to his undergraduate degree at the University of Colorado followed by the University of Denver where he graduated with a master’s in finance. Leo moved to New York and started a career on Wall Street but missed his family in Colorado. In the late 70’s he had an opportunity to move home and achieved success as an analyst for Denver Investment Advisors.

Leo never forgot where he came from and wanted to help others who were less fortunate by giving time and money to the causes he believed in. Leo’s most beloved project was the Latin American Educational Foundation (LAEF), which has been providing college scholarships to Hispanic students since 1949. Leo’s donation to LAEF had a profound impact on the organization and a promise he made to himself. “I did this for my dad who instilled in me the inspiration to go to college at an early age.” Leo had been looking for a way to repay his father for his education and LAEF provided the vehicle to make this happen.

Among the many blessings Leo had in his life, his family inspired him every day. Leo was preceded in death by his brother Rudy Beserra and daughter Christine Beserra. Leo is survived by his wife Michele, his three children, and their families; Allison (Jordan) Kriss, Nicole (Andrew) Cox, and Garrett (Amanda) Beserra; and 3 grandchildren.

A funeral mass for Leo will be held Friday, June 21, 2024, from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM at St Thomas More Catholic Parish, 8035 S Quebec St, Centennial, CO.

Following the funeral mass will be a celebration of life reception at Ocean Prime, 8000 E Belleview Ave, Greenwood Village, CO, from 2:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to supporting education. Leo's favorite was LAEF, Latin American Educational Foundation. www.laefcolorado.org