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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.
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