Donald Dick

Donald Edward Dick, Jr. of Boulder CO passed away peacefully at Boulder Canyon
Health and Rehabilitation on Jan 15 after a brave 11 mo battle with the effects from a
brain bleed. He was surrounded by friends and loved ones.

Don was born 4/23/42 in Little Rock AR to Murva Catherine Murray and Donald Edward
Dick, Sr. He was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Marjorie Pearl
Dick Adkisson (1935-2010). He is survived by his nieces Kathy Marcinko and Karen
Savino and many loving friends and neighbors.

Don moved with his family from AR to Madison, WI as a young teen, where he grew up
for the remainder of his youth. It was there that he developed his enduring love of the
outdoors. He enjoyed sailing on lakes in WI and later around the country. After his
graduation from High School, he attended California Institute of Technology on
scholarship and earned his Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering. After marrying
his first wife, Mary in 1963, the couple returned to Madison, where Don earned his PhD
in electrical engineering from the University of Wisconsin. The couple then moved to
Boulder, CO where Don began teaching at the University of Colorado and they built
their home in Sunshine Canyon, where Don lived until just before his death. Here, Don’s
love of all things outdoors bloomed. He was an avid outdoorsman, hiker, backpacker,
downhill and backcountry skier and cyclist in the Colorado Mountains, around the world,
and near his home. He married his second wife, Martha (Marty) in 1988. He shared his
passions for nature and the outdoors with everyone he met, including his young nieces,
occasionally taking them along on his adventures.

In addition to his teaching career at CU, Don was ever the entrepreneur. He was
instrumental in the development and distribution of ultrasound technology used to detect
early breast cancer. He also partnered in starting a company that made and serviced
instruments for monitoring ores in the mining industry, traveling extensively in this
capacity. In the late 1980’s, Don co founded Rocky Mountain Retail Systems,
developing and marketing technology used to verify checks at point of sale, which was
used worldwide by many large companies. After selling this company, he remained on
as a consultant for many years under the new ownership, Brainard Technology.

In addition to the outdoors, Don’s true love was being of service to others. He was a
member of the Sunshine Canyon Volunteer Fire Department for over 35 years, and
continued to be of service in his beloved mountain community whenever he was
needed. Don spent many years as a volunteer facilitator for a caregiver’s support group,
supporting those who were caring for loved ones. He volunteered at the Nederland
Mining Museum, with the Wilderness Restoration Project, and was actively involved with
the Quaker Men’s Group for over 35 years. He and his second wife Marty endowed the
Higher Education Fund for the Boulder Quaker Meeting. Even into his late 70’s, Don
was volunteering as a handyman for the elderly t through a county program, doing small
electrical, carpentry and home repair jobs free of charge for those who needed a little
help in their home. He was skiing down the back bowls of Copper Mountain, his favorite
ski area, on his telemark skis through the trees, snowshoeing and cross-country skiing
whenever he could in his beloved mountains. He walked up Bald Mountain every
morning for his daily walk with his friend and neighbor. Don also played the piano, the
guitar and the bongo drums. Don was always ready to lend a helping hand or a
sympathetic ear to anyone who needed it, and he will be truly missed by so many.

A Quaker Memorial Service will be held on Feb 25 at 2:00 pm at the Quaker Meeting House,
1825 Upland Ave, Boulder, CO 80304.