Rendall Paul Ayers

Rendall Paul Ayers passed away the evening of January 7, 2022. Rendy, as he was known to his many friends, was born to Richard (Dick) K. Ayers and G. Christine (Chris) Paul Ayers in Wichita Falls, Tex., on Aug. 25, 1937.

The young family moved frequently across the country as Dick was reassigned bases while serving in the U.S. Navy. They ended up in Denver when Rendy was elementary school following Dick’s tuberculosis diagnosis.

Despite enduring long stretches without his father around, Rendy developed a love for sports and the great outdoors. He especially loved baseball and even played it as a youngster. He also was active in scouting and earned the rank of Eagle Scout from the Boy Scouts of America.

Rendy graduated from Denver’s East High School and remained a proud East Angel his whole life. He then enrolled in the University of Colorado where after a few starts and stops, he earned a degree in Journalism. It is at CU where Rendy met his wife of more than 60 years, Sara Lee Hoffman, at a Sigma Chi fraternity party.

Upon graduation from CU, like many of his peers, Rendy joined the U.S. Army where he served in communications and intelligence stateside. He remained in the Army Reserves until the mid-60s.

Following his active service, Rendy leveraged his journalism degree into a job with the Associated Press where he was initially stationed in Helena, Mont. He also dabbled in public relations working at his father’s firm from time to time. He made his way back to Colorado to work at the Denver Post covering the State House, a job he enjoyed immensely. Eventually, Rendy traded in his reporter credentials first to head up communications for the Insurance Information Institute and then to lead the public relations team for Safeway Stores, Rocky Mountain Region.

After leaving Safeway, Rendy became a public relations consultant specializing in issues management and crisis communications for some of the area’s largest public relations firms. Toward the end of his career, he went to work with his daughter at Ayers Strategic Public Relations in Denver. He was a long-time member of the Public Relations Society of America, its Counselors Academy and its College of Fellows. Active in the Colorado Chapter of PRSA, Rendy was its president in 1978, some 20 years after his father served in the same role.

He was a skilled mountain climber and summited many of Colorado’s best-known peaks. But once he started a family with Sara, he put away his pack, pitons and ropes for more tamer outdoor endeavors. He enjoyed playing golf with his father and father-in-law until he didn’t anymore. He then picked up tennis, at which he excelled well into his late 70s. He also began running in various 5K and 10K road races. His favorites were the Farmers 5000 and the Bolder Boulder.

Rendy had an affinity for sports cars and owned several beginning with an old MGB two-seater with a bench in the back. That was followed by many beloved Porsches, two Jaguars and a Volvo. He loved driving and would frequently comment on a car’s responsiveness. He shared this love with his son.

Rendy is survived by his wife Sara, his son Reed A. Ayers, his daughter Sydney L. Ayers and his grandsons Alexander (Alex) J. Shefrin and Jakob (Jack) K. Shefrin as well as his adored dogs, Lizzy and Tony.

Due to ongoing concerns with COVID, the family will host a celebration of life later in the summer – the time Rendy loved best in Colorado. Donations in Rendy’s memory may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, the Denver Dumb Friends League, the Colorado Mountain Club or a charity of the donor’s choice.