ALEXANDER R. "ALEX" CATTANACH

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Purdue University

ALEXANDER CATTANACH Obituary

Long time Denver resident Alexander "Alex" R. Cattanach died at home in Portland, OR on April 29, 2010. He and Wendy, his wife of 40 years, moved to Portland in 2008. Born December 14, 1923 in Chicago, Alex grew into a modest man who loved life, people and the outdoors. He would rather you know about the Italian families who hid him from German soldiers than about the 54 WWII combat fighter missions in his P-47 that earned him a Distinguished Flying Cross in 1945. After leaving the Army Air Corps, Alex graduated from Purdue University in mechanical engineering (1948), and he made his living in the printing business. After retiring, he was an active volunteer, greeting school children at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for 12 years, serving as a Denver County election judge and making bluebird boxes for the Audubon Society. He was also an 18-year member of the Mile-Hi Sertoma Club. Alex met his beloved wife Wendy hiking on a mountain trail and together they climbed 24 Colorado 14'ers and hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon four times. They also skied, sailed, fished, camped and traveled extensively in the US, Great Britain and Europe. The love of Wendy's life, Alex is also survived by his sons Bruce, Glenn, Gregg, their families and his former wife Joan, as well as many friends. To remember Alex and celebrate his life, family and friends will come together at his home in Portland Wednesday, June 16, 2010. Contributions will be appreciated and can be sent to The Greenway Foundation at 5299 DTC Blvd., Suite 710, Greenwood Village CO 80111 or donate online at www.greenwayfoundation.org or the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, 2001 Colorado Blvd., Denver CO 80205, Attention: Development Department.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Denver Post on May 30, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for ALEXANDER CATTANACH

8 Entries

Bruce Cattanach

May 26, 2025

Alex was a positive man. He could see things that were simple and beautiful. He loved his skiing, down hill and cross country. He raised bees for their honey. Without a Dad to model his life after he was the best you could ask for

Anne Couchman

June 21, 2010

My sister, Wendy, had a great marriage of 40 years, an accomplishment to be celebrated. From the day I first met Alex he was so easy and enjoyable to be with - I loved him right away. My time with Alex was during short infrequent visits over the years which are now a string of wonderful memories. Alex, you will always have a special place in my heart and I thank you from my heart for making my sister so happy.

Gregg Cattanach

June 5, 2010

My Dad was a great guy and we spent many summers and winters hiking in the high country of Colorado, skiing and sailing. He was always humble about his service in World War II, and had a great tour of duty there, incurring many risks.

I spent many of our times hiking, skiing and fishing with his wife Wendy and she has always been kind to me and made our many adventures that much more pleasant.

I will miss Dad, always.

Tim Stone

June 3, 2010

My condolences to the Cattanach family. Having lost my father just months ago I can understand the monumental loss of losing your father. Glenn is a good friend of mine and I only wish I would have had a chance to meet his father, he sounds like he was an ingredible man that knew how to live. Blessings

Glenn Cattanach

June 3, 2010

I will miss my father. He enjoyed life and made the most of it which is something we all can strive for in our lives.

As a child, he taught me about tools, saws, how to drive a car with a clutch and mechanical things. He was the guy in the neighborhood who would help kids with a broken bike or flat tire and taught us to do the same.

During kite season he would cut extra sticks so we could repair our broken kites without having to buy a new one - just replace the broken stick. Once he made slingshots for the neighborhood kids, but after a some neighbors experienced broken windows, the slingshots were "recalled" by noon the same day!

He taught us to fish, sail and snow ski. I have great memories of the many fishing trips to Wyoming and the trout we caught from the North Platte River. He taught all of his sons to sail. We learned in a simple small single sail dingy, but the basic sailing education has allowed all 3 of his sons sailing to contiue to enjoy sailing as adults. He taught me to ski on a used pair of lace up ski boots, and some $5 skies with cable bindings! I skied on that equipment for a couple of years and continued to enjoy skiing into my 40's.

He was a great man who lived a full life. He will be missed by all who knew him, and will be remembered fondly by all of the people he touched.

Family of Alcide Lanzarini

June 3, 2010

The Lanzarini family offer sincere condolences to the Cattanach family.

The news of Alex passing away has saddened us all. He is fondly remembered by the Lanzarini's. Already before he and Wendy visited the family would happily recall the "Americani" and gladly recount the lighter moments of that dramatic time.

And then Alex and Wendy visited, and he became a friend, someone close to their heart. How kind it was of him (of you both Wendy). But by then, Alcide had passed away. Giovanna was so happy; she felt so honoured that he had remembered; that he had cared to remember.

His memory is etched into our hearts, and our prayers go up to heaven for him and all his dear ones. God bless!

Kymberly Dakin-Neal

June 2, 2010

Alex and my father were the best of friends. I remember all the laughter and joy they created between them. When he and his wife Wendy went down the Colorado river with us in a rubber raft, Alex always had a sparkle in his eye and kind encouragement for the city slickers from Brooklyn out in the wild for the first time. Years later,he had that same sparkle when he volunteered at the Natural History Museum - he was so happy to share the place with so many groups of wiggly, giggly children. He was a light in so many lives and we were all very lucky to have known him.

May 31, 2010

Dad and I learned to sail together, neither of us having any experience with Sailing. He also taught me trout fishing on the North Platte river in Wyoming and snow skiing at Arapahoe Basin.

However, the most important thing he taught was that you don't need lots of "stuff" or a lot of money to have a full life. He was a great father and will be greatly missed.

Bruce Cattanach Martinsville NJ

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