Richard Gebhardt

1931 - 2017

Richard Glenn Gebhardt, known as Rich to his friends, died peacefully on February 13, 2017. Rich was born in Denver, CO on May 18, 1931. At the age of 2 1/2, Rich was adopted by a wonderful couple, Glenn and Dora Gebhardt, both public school teachers. Glenn Gebhardt was a photographer in the summers, so Rich spent his summers traveling the western U.S. He grew up in Denver and graduated from South High School. Rich enlisted in the Army at the age of 19 and served as a medic in the Korean War. During the last big drive of the war, Rich's battalion was cut off from the rest of his group. During the ensuing battle, Rich was hit by shrapnel in the leg and abdomen. His battalion was overrun by the North Koreans, and he and a group of soldiers were taken as prisoners. He was rescued by the American Army and flown to Hawaii to recover from his injuries. In July 1953, he was honorably discharged as a Corporal, and received the First Oak Leaf Cluster, THE CIB medical badge, and The Purple Heart. He carried this quotation from JFK with him in his wallet: "War marks you forever. While you need to move to your future you cannot let go of what you had witnessed and what you had learned. One thing learned is that you are capable of personal courage when the need is thrust upon you. However, one singular crucial idea you grasp from the experience of war is that war is wrong and when you return home you must take the life of your country seriously which means that the rest of the life you have been given as a survivor means doing all you can to prevent another war." Rich returned to Colorado and attended the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating in 1957 with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Economics, and then a Masters of Public Administration in 1958. During his time at CU, he was elected to the student body government. Rich began to pursue his interest in politics in the early 1960's when he worked on John F. Kennedy's Presidential campaign. He pursued many Congressional and Legislative causes, including the 1960's civil rights campaign. Rich was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 1965 and served 2 terms. He was the first democrat elected in Boulder County in 16 years. During his time in the State Legislature, he ran the first legislation to establish hospice care. This legislation would not be passed for another 10 years. Rich was the Western Regional Campaign Chairman for Robert Kennedy's campaign for President. He traveled with Kennedy to the South during the Civil Rights campaign. He also served as a Colorado coordinator for Teddy Kennedy's campaign for President. Rich was elected and served many times as a delegate to national democratic conventions. He worked hard to end the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War and was the democratic candidate for the Colorado U.S. House of Representatives' Second Congressional District in 1970. Rich continued his work in politics through lobbying and advising until his last days with us. Rich also served as Boulder County Public Trustee for 25 years under four Colorado governors. In addition, he worked for Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Co. for 53 years. Rich loved the outdoors and called himself a naturalist. He loved taking his grandkids for a ride in Mr. Jeep, without the top or doors or seatbelts. He loved the mountains, spending time by the river at his beloved Treehouse cabin, and the ocean, especially when he visited Maui, Hawaii. He never missed a birthday and would sing and play the harmonica to celebrate every member of his family's birthdays. He was an avid sports fan, especially basketball. For many years, he served as the official time keeper for the CU men's basketball team. There were very few problems that couldn't be solved over breakfasts with Rich at any number of local breakfast restaurants. Breakfast with Dad/Grandad was always special and conversations over poached eggs, crispy bacon, rye toast with extra butter, and coffee will be sorely missed but fondly remembered. Rich is remembered with love by his wife Ponce (Linda), and their children Michael and Christina. He is also survived by his children from his first marriage to Vici (Parmakian) DeHaan and their spouses, Kathy Gebhardt and her husband Steve Swanson, Lisa Hoy and her husband Trevor, and Mark Gebhardt and his wife Kim Hoff-Gebhardt. He will be missed by his grandchildren Sarah Brewe and her husband Nick, Matthew Lanterman, Rachel Swanson, Daniel Swanson, and Ana Swanson; Andrew and Sean Hoy; Ben, Christian, Johnathon, and Jayden Gebhardt, and Taryn Hoff; and his great-grandchildren Beatrice and Rosalind Brewe. Rich's celebration of life ceremony will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2017 from 1-3 pm at the Boulder Country Club. In lieu of flowers, please consider a gift in Dad's name to one of the following charities: Salvation Army: www. give.salvationarmyusa.org; Online; By Phone: 1 800-725-2769 TruCare Hospice: www.trucare.org; Online; By Phone: 303-604-5389 Boulder (Homeless) Shelter: www.bouldershelter.org; Online; By Phone: 303-442-4646