Diana Alberico

Diane Alberico was born on June 3, 1952, to Clor and Henrietta Quintana, and grew up in Pueblo, Colorado, where she attended Sacred Heart Cathedral Catholic School with her brothers Roger (Patte), Elmer (Diane), and Rocky (Cathey) Quintana, and her sister Mary Martinez. She was a proud aunt to many nieces and nephews living across the country and around the world. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Rose Lucero, and her beloved niece, Maniyah Quintana.

At 18, Diane moved to Denver, where she began her career as a dental hygienist before finding her way into higher education at Metropolitan State. In 1973, she moved to Colorado Springs, a decision that would shape the rest of her life.

While working at El Nopal in Colorado Springs, a coworker introduced Diane to a vacationing Michael Alberico, who happened to be in town trying to decide whether Colorado Springs might be a good place to live. He met Diane. Spoiler alert: he moved here.

Diane and Michael later eloped in Las Vegas on July 10, 1980, and together built a life and raised their two daughters, Tina and Alicia.

Diane was a fiercely devoted mother. More than anything, she wanted her girls to have every opportunity possible, and she didn't just tell them that—she showed up. She volunteered at their schools, served as a Girl Scout leader, chaperoned activities, participated in District 11 committees and made herself available wherever and whenever her girls needed her. Diane taught her daughters how to advocate for themselves, how to be strong and independent women, and, perhaps most importantly, that you show up for the people you love.

That instinct extended far beyond her own children. Any kid Diane encountered through work, volunteering, or her daughters' friendships had a pretty good chance of becoming one of "her kids." Whether they wanted to hear it or not, Diane was going to give them her opinion, because she genuinely wanted the best for every child who came her way.

Her career in higher education continued at Pikes Peak Community College before she joined the University of Colorado Colorado Springs following the birth of her second daughter. She eventually became Assistant to the Vice Chancellor for Administration and Finance and remained with UCCS until her retirement in 2008.

During her years at UCCS, Diane's impact reached well beyond her job title. She helped coordinate major campus projects, served on university committees, recruited prospective students at Colorado high schools on her own time, and was an enthusiastic advocate for UCCS throughout the community.

She also served as co-chair of the Women of Color Conference, helped bring the Latino Leadership Conference to young students, served on All Staff Council and the Staff Development Committee, spent ten years as a Girl Scout leader and four years on the Girl Scout Board of Directors, and volunteered extensively with local schools and District 11.

But a list of accomplishments doesn't really tell you who Diane was. Diane was loyal. She was fierce. She had opinions—and you were probably going to hear them. She loved hard, advocated loudly and had a laugh you could hear from a mile away. She loved shopping, purses, jewelry, sparkly shoes and, really, anything that sparkled. The only time you were likely to see Diane run was when there was a good sale involved. She hated cooking but absolutely loved going out to eat. Bean Bandit and P.F. Chang's were favorites, as were lunches with the ladies—although "lunch" could occasionally mean leaving work for lunch and possibly not making it back.

She loved "going up the hill" to Cripple Creek with Michael, especially when there was all-you-can-eat crab involved.

More than anything, though, Diane loved her family. She is survived by her husband, Michael Alberico; her oldest daughter, Tina Stoecklein and husband Jeff, and their daughter Kennedy; and her youngest daughter, Alicia Heim and husband Bryan, and their children Dani, Fletcher and Ayla. She also leaves behind Mauri and Meli, honorary grandchildren whom Diane loved and embraced as her own.

Being a grandmother brought Diane tremendous joy. She loved spending time with her grandchildren, whether that meant trips to Glenwood Springs, days at the zoo and the North Pole, adventures in Denver, craft time or simply being together. Those are the memories her grandchildren will carry with them.

Her daughters will miss her unmistakable laugh, late-night advice and gossip, ridiculous stories, and incredibly loud sneezes. They will miss having the person they could call when they needed advice, an opinion—or sometimes an opinion they hadn't actually asked for.

Michael will miss the everyday life they built together, going out for meals, their trips up the hill, and the many road trips they took over the years—driving across the country to visit family, with more than a few casino stops conveniently worked into the route along the way.

The last several months of Diane's life asked so much of her. She fought as hard as she could, and when that fight came to an end, she passed peacefully with her family by her side.

Diane leaves behind a family that is stronger because of her. Her daughters learned to stand up for themselves because she taught them how. Generations of children had someone in their corner because Diane decided they belonged there. Her grandchildren have countless adventures and stories to remember. And all of us who loved her will probably hear that laugh—and maybe even one of those sneezes—in our heads for a very long time.

Celebration of Life

A Celebration of Life honoring Diane will be held Sunday, October 4, 2026, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Flying W Ranch, 3330 Chuckwagon Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80919.

Memorial Contributions:

In lieu of flowers or plants, the family asks those wishing to honor Diane to consider contributing to her memorial fund at https://everloved.com/life-of/diane-alberico/donate/?flow=201

The family hopes to use the memorial fund to establish a permanent physical memorial for Diane on the University of Colorado Colorado Springs campus—a place that was such an important part of her life and where her impact will continue to be remembered.

If a memorial at UCCS is not possible, the family hopes to dedicate a bench in Diane’s honor at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, a place she loved visiting but hated walking all those hills.