Geraldine Ann Chestor

Geraldine passed away quietly in her sleep on Nov. 16, 2025, at the age of 90 after a short illness. Daughter of Elmer Pfertsh and Kathryn Gangl, Geraldine (Geri) was born in Denver and lived there until her family moved to the family farm in Welby, with her 3 brothers and younger sister. She graduated from Adams City High School in 1952. Family was always her priority, and there were monthly gatherings with various family members. She worked as a legal secretary and a real estate assistant before she found her true calling. Geri started as a secretary for Richard Ives Machine Tool Co., and before long, she was Vice President of Sales. She learned to operate all the equipment they sold and attended trade shows across the country, often demonstrating it to customers. During this time, her son Richard was born, and she started a second career.

When Richard was born, very little was known about autism. None of the doctors knew what was wrong. After fighting for several years, Geri was told he was autistic, but none of the doctors had any advice on what to do next. He was the first person diagnosed with autism in Colorado. Her son drove her to advocate for all kids with autism and developmental needs. Geri attended the first national conference on autism in 1969 and spoke with Dr. Rimland in Washington, DC. He directed her to go back to her state and fight for the children. She did so by gathering a group of other parents, who founded the Colorado Society for Autistic Children in 1969. She was in the newspapers from 1969 to the 1980s and as recently as 2011, fighting for children.

She and other parents also started Chestor House in Boulder in 1980 to provide a home for autistic adults who could not live on their own, and whose parents could no longer care for them. It still exists today, but the name has changed to Overture.

After retiring from Richard Ives Co., she bought her father’s insurance practice and worked as an insurance agent until about 2007, when she finally retired. She was active in several organizations well into her 70s. During these years, she received numerous awards, including a proclamation declaring April 24, 2007, as Geri Chestor Day in the City of Lakewood. In 2012, Geri received the Citizen of Distinction from the Autism Society of Colorado (ASC), and in 2015, the Founder’s Award from the ASC. Geri was also a member of Eastern Star for more than thirty years.

Her husband, John Thomas Chestor, preceded her. She was mother to Michelle, Loni, Richard, Peggy, Michiyo, and Todd, grandmother to Gwen, Nicole, Chad, Erin, Minoru, Aoi, Joseph, and a great-grandmother to 9 children. Memorial contributions can be made to the Autism Society of Colorado at PO Box 848, Broomfield, CO 80038, or www.autismcolorado.org.

Services will be held on December 1, 2025, at Crown Hill Serenity Pointe Chapel at 2:00 pm. Arrangements under the direction of Olinger Crown Hill Mortuary, Cemetery & Crematory, Wheat Ridge, 7777 W 29th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033