OBITUARIES

as well as extractors (giant washing machines) to clean bunker gear. ey also need hose washers and compressors to ll SCBA breathing equipment. is is life safety and that always should come rst over aesthetics or someones overly aggressive NIMBYism!

I encourage people to support this

GUEST COLUMN

Kacey Narracci

of being a “normal American teenager” in a “typical” American family, and we are all better for it.

Each year, EF High School Exchange Year brings thousands of students to the U.S.A. to live out their American dream of attending high school in the U.S. for a school year or a semester. About 20-25 of those kids land in Je erson County, but we have space for many more. is is such a wonderful opportunity to make our global community smaller, share your culture, learn about others, expose your children and community to more diversity. ere is no downside!

Host families come in all shapes and sizes: empty nesters, single parents, big families with small children, small families with or without children. e only requirements are to be at least 25 years of age, have a bed for the student that is not convertible in nature (they can share a room with a same sex sibling), be able to provide three meals a day and a willingness to open your heart and home to an exchange student.

Please visit https://efexchangeyear.org/iec/kacey-narracci/ for more information and to see some of the terri c kids that hope to nd a host family for the 2023-24 school year.

Kacey Narracci is the regional coordinator of EF High School Exchange Year. Kacey can be reached at kacey. narracci@efexchangeyear.org or 720331-4556.

venture by Northstar Ventures. It will be incredible. ere are no negatives. e views will still be there for residents of Rainbow Hills as well as those travelling west. e entrances for emergency vehicles will have better placement and alignment. e RTD park and ride will even be better.

I have a Facebook Group dedicated to supporting this. www.facebook. com/groups/evergreengateway

Nate Marshall, Evergreen

Richard Andrew O’Connor, 61, of Evergreen, Colorado passed away on February 24, 2023.

Richard

O’Connor October 14, 1961 - February 24, 2023

Rich was born in Denver, Colorado on October 14, 1961 to Donald and Sue O’Connor. Rich graduated from Colorado Academy in 1980 and went on to earn a degree in geology at St. Lawrence University, in chilly Canton, New York.

During summers in college, Rich worked on Martha’s Vineyard on sword shing boats, which led to his passion as a y sherman. After college, Rich moved back to Denver and worked for the Xerox Corporation before entering into the nance industry and working for both Kirkpatrick Pettis and D.A. Davidson as Senior Vice President of Institutional Sales. Rich met his wife Holly in the fall of 1988 and they married July 14, 1990.

Rich retired in June 2022 and spent time y shing, skiing and traveling. Rich loved working on and in his yard in Evergreen and was proud of its impeccable appearance.

Rich was preceded in death by his father Donald O’Connor and mother Sue O’Connor. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Holly, daughters Emma and Annie, his brothers Davis (Cathie), Peter (Kathy) and sister Susan, nieces and nephews that he adored, Sean O’Connor (Josie), Liam O’Connor, Meghan Ellington (Matthew Ellington), Patrick O’Connor (Kristen), Brian O’Connor

(Rachel), James Kreidle (Victoria), Connor Kreidle (Ellory), Katie Kreidle, Nicole Kreidle Bernstein (Kevin Bernstein), his stepmother Lenora O’Connor and numerous great nieces and nephews. His wife and daughters were the loves of his life.

Rich was an avid y sherman although he had an odd and outsized fear of sharks. He loved the Colorado outdoors, spending time shing the North Fork of the South Platte River on the families’ ranch in Pine and other rivers in Colorado, skiing in Vail and mountain biking in Elk Meadow and Bu alo Creek. He loved hanging out with his beloved Labrador retrievers, Hoss, Izzie, Millie (purchased on a whim at an auction), and several others. He was an avid Bronco and college lacrosse fan. He had an uncanny memory for just about any and every college and professional football player. Rich will be remembered for his quick wit, intellect and integrity. He will be missed dearly.

A memorial service honoring Rich’s life will be held Wednesday March 15, 4pm at Pinehurst Country Club, 6255 W Quincy Ave, Denver, CO 80235

In lieu of owers the family requests donations to be made in Richs’ memory to e Wild Animal Sanctuary, Foothills Animal Shelter or Evergreen Animal Protective League, all causes Rich was passionate about.

Some of the rules have changed this year: performers must be 18 or younger, and solo performers will be able to get an accompanist.

While it is too late to register for Conifer’s Got Talent, the deadline for Evergreen’s Got Talent is March 31. Conifer area teens are invited to perform at the Evergreen event.

For more information and to register, visit evergreensgottalent.com.

EPRD to look into employee housing e Evergreen Park & Recreation District will look into what it would take to turn three houses it owns in Buchanan Park into employee housing.

If the rec district goes through with the idea, Executive Director Cory Vander Veen said there would be many details to work out, including giving the current tenants plenty of time to move out.

“It seems worthwhile,” board member Mary McGhee said at the Feb. 28 board meeting. “It seems like a win-win. It builds loyalty (among sta members) and helps with affordable housing.” e rec district has di culty lling both seasonal and full-time employee positions in part because of the cost to live in Evergreen.

Board member Monty Estis agreed, saying as long as the district brought in the same rent revenue, having employee housing could help solve sta ng needs.

Board members agreed it makes sense to look into it.