Richard Gordon Levad July 26, 1941 - February 27, 2008
 

Richard Gordon Levad, 66, passed away at his home in Grand Junction, CO, surrounded by family and friends on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Richard was born July 26, 1941 to Gordon and Marie Levad in Forest City, IA. The second oldest child, he grew up with 11siblings on the family farm. A few years after graduating from Forest City High School, he joined the U.S. Air Force, was stationed for three years in Spangdahlem, Germany, and enjoyed traveling throughout Europe during his time there. Upon leaving the Air Force, Richard enrolled at Colorado State College (now University of Northern Colorado) in Greeley, where he met the love of his life, Karen Madison. They married on June 11, 1966. After graduation, they moved to Grand Junction to start a family and begin a life of service, education, and appreciation of the natural wonders of western Colorado. Richard began teaching English literature and composition at Central High School in 1968. He continued to shape his students' love of the written word over the next 30 years until his retirement in 1998. His children are still stopped in town (as well as in Denver and Colorado Springs) and told, "Mr. Levad was one of the best teachers I've ever had". Richard received the Outstanding Teacher of the Year Award for Central High School in 1998. Richard had a lifelong fascination with birds. After retiring from teaching, he turned an avocation-bird watching-into a vocation when he began working full-time for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory (RMBO). He had previously spent the free summers of his teaching career hiking in the mountains and monitoring bird populations for RMBO and the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas. When he began his second career as the Special Monitoring Projects Coordinator at RMBO, he passionately pursued Purple Martins, Black Swifts, and all varieties of Colorado owls. His family and friends will always treasure the opportunities provided by Richard to watch, listen to, and hold these birds in their hands. His curiosity was infectious. Richard constantly observed the natural world around him and led the people in his life to explore and appreciate the beauty of this earth. His colleagues, friends, and family recognized his dedication in 2005 when he received a Certificate of Appreciation for years of outstanding service to Audubon Colorado, The Ronald A. Ryder Award from Colorado Field Ornithologists, and the inaugural Richard G. Levad Award for Significant Contributions to the Conservation of Rocky Mountain and Great Plains Birds from the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory. In the face of ongoing challenges presented by his struggle with Lou Gehrig's Disease (ALS), Richard retired from RMBO in July 2006. With more time to pursue his own birding projects, he began writing The Coolest Bird, a natural history of the Black Swift, a bird that he had spent several years studying and tracking throughout Colorado and New Mexico. Meticulously typing with just one finger, he completed the manuscript, which is now being considered for publication by Oregon State University Press. Richard continued his bird watching adventures, including scurrying up Zapata Falls near Alamosa to band Black Swifts; sitting around a campfire near Parachute, waiting to capture Saw-whet Owls; and watching Bald Eagles fly to their roosts as the sun set on the Grand Mesa. Richard is survived by his wife, Karen; four children: Andrew Levad (Lisa), Katherine Scott (Earl), Kenneth Levad, and Amy Levad (Mark DelCogliano); four grandchildren: Brittany, Bradley, Katie, and Skyler; ten brothers and sisters: Charles Levad (Trina), David Levad (Betty Jo), Steve Levad (Barb), Tom Levad, Jim Levad (Judy), Joe Levad, Mary Mosiman, Robert Levad (Deb), Susan Baugus (John), and Sharon Bedig (Mike); and numerous nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his brother, Ed Levad. Funeral services were held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Grand Junction. A visitation and a vigil took place on Sunday, March 2, 2008. A funeral mass was celebrated at on Monday, March 3, 2008. Memorial donations may be sent to the Grand Valley Audubon Society Building Fund, P.O. Box 1211, Grand Junction, CO 81502-1211. They may also be sent to The Richard G. Levad Memorial Fund held at the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, Attn: Jim Pauley, P.O. Box 1232, Brighton, CO 80601-1232. Please write "Levad Memorial Fund" in the memo line of any checks.
Published in The Daily Sentinel on 3/1/2008.