Richard Dean Wolber

Richard Dean Wolber of Lakewood, Colorado died peacefully in his home October 6, 2023. He was born July 20,1936 in Rock Falls, Illinois, the son of a steelworker and a waitress-turned-munitions factory laborer, and the eldest of six children. Mired in the Great Depression and teetering on the edge of WWII, he grew up in an environment of scarcity and privation. Richard learned early to care for others, including his siblings Roberta, Rodney, Sharon, Gloria, and Robert. He developed an inimitable resilience, determination to succeed, and a stoic optimism that friends and loved ones knew him for throughout his life.

In 1954 after graduating from Rock Falls High School, Richard got a job at Bender and Burch Music in Sterling, IL. It was the beginning of a career that took him to the Quad Cities, Galesburg, IL, and finally to Denver. His first jazz concert – no doubt where he caught the bug – was in the late 1950s to hear an up-and-coming Louis Armstrong in Chicago. He would later see Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Ella Fitzgerald, Herbie Hancock and many others. Cultured in the emerging record scene, he sported a tweed jacket and sold Hi-Fidelity equipment and BeBop records when they were new. He loved to drive his Corvette up to Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin and race with his buddies on two-lane backroads. Richard loved golf, working as a caddie in his early years and later seeking out some of the country’s best courses. He was a committed bowler, rarely missing a season from his twenties into his eighties. Dedication to his bowling league was matched by attachment to his team buddies, many of whom remained friends for life. Richard also enjoyed the stage and in his younger years performed with local troupes in Iowa and Illinois. His favorite role was playing Oscar in Neil Simon’s The Odd Couple. That production was also where he met his first wife, Dee. In 1971 the two moved to Denver and married, and along with Dee’s children began a home there.

In 1972 at the age of 36, Richard entered the University of Colorado at Denver, earning his BA with distinction and acceptance into the Phi Beta Kappa society. In 1975 he started law school at the University of Denver, alternately hitting the books and driving an RTD bus. Finally, in just under six years he completed an eight year program of study and earned his Juris Doctor in 1978. Richard quickly passed the Colorado Bar Exam and opened a private practice specializing in domestic law, mechanics lien, and collections. In 1979 and 1980, he received awards from the Colorado Bar Association for outstanding efforts on behalf of the indigent and poor. In 1981 Richard joined the Law Firm of Milnor H. Senior, representing clients in Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy. He re-opened his private practice in 1984 and successfully handled more than a thousand bankruptcy cases over the next nine years. He retired in 1993 but continued to provide pro bono legal assistance and services as an independent investment manager.

In 1991, Richard married his second wife and the love of his life, Jacqueline Greber. Together, they filled their days with ballroom and Latin dancing, live music events, travel, charitable functions, their several dogs and cats, and good times with family and friends. They were strong champions of the arts, particularly in Denver and Santa Fe, and Richard continued to attend and support exhibitions and local artists throughout his life. A connoisseur of the Denver jazz scene, Richard loved all the local venues and was a proud supporter of KUVO. While his and Jackie’s joint philanthropy touched many, their dedication to animal welfare and rescue stood apart, leaving a profound mark on animals and their caretakers in Denver and beyond.

Always a quiet and gentle soul, Richard was generous and kind, unassuming, and an avid learner. He was a voracious reader, a long-time film buff and critic, and a Nuggets, Rockies, and Broncos fan. He loved the Colorado mountains and was devoted to his family and beloved dog, Arthur. His wry sense of humor, humble ways, and quiet optimism made him truly one-of-a-kind.

Richard is survived by his two stepchildren, Laurie Brumberg (Daniel) and Steve MacDonald; grandchildren Gabriel Brumberg and Lucy Ehrenclou; brothers Robert Wolber (Terry) and Rodney Wolber (Dee); and several nieces, nephews, grandnieces, and grandnephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Jackie, his parents, and three sisters.

Donations in his memory can be made to the Wild Animal Sanctuary, Freedom Service Dogs, or The Evans Scholarship. A private celebration of life will take place November 4, 2023. Please contact the family for more information.