Cade Douglas Carlson

Cade Carlson, beloved husband, father, son, brother, uncle, and friend, passed away on July 4, 2025, at 38.

Cade's fearless spirit was contagious. He was always seeking out adventures alongside the people he loved most. For Cade, joy and freedom were found in the mountains, on skis or a bike, in rivers and forests, or simply in playing with his daughters. His boundless energy was surpassed only by the fierceness of his love.

Born on September 8, 1986, to Holly and Vance Carlson, Cade grew up in Lakewood, Colorado. He graduated from Green Mountain High School in 2005 and earned his BA in accounting and finance from Fort Lewis College in 2009. He worked in the finance industry for several years before pursuing his true calling in dentistry, attending dental school at the UC-Anschutz Medical Campus. He graduated with an emphasis in rural health, in recognition of his work in underserved communities across Colorado.

After earning his DDS, Cade assumed leadership of Carlson Family Dentistry and Implants from his father, continuing the family business. Cade brought skill, kindness, and humor to his work, and he was loved by countless patients and friends in Littleton and beyond. Patients always knew when Dr. Cade was in the office; they could hear his laugh booming down the hall.

Cade was a loving brother and best friend to Hillary Pederson and Audrey Barrios, and to their husbands, Garen and Alex. He was an endlessly fun, don't-tell-your-parents uncle to Elliot, Wes, Jace, Quincy, Josie, and Romy. Most of all, he was a devoted husband to Morgan Broadway and a proud, adoring father to their two daughters, Isla and Hunter. Family was everything to Cade-his wild heart, his steady joy-and Cade was everything to his family.

Cade's sense of humor was not for the squeamish; he was constantly saying outrageous yet hilarious things, stirring up every room he entered. But people were drawn to his warmth, confidence, and knack for doing things few others would even attempt. He was lightning in a bottle: intensely loyal, forever generous, a man whose presence made life bigger, better, and more deeply rooted.

To know Cade was to love him, his easy smile and deep laugh. His absence leaves a void that will never be filled. But Cade's spirit lives in every piece of advice, mischievous story, and high-mountain adventure we carry forward in his name.

A celebration of Cade's life will be held in the coming months and details are forthcoming. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Boston University's Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center and the Concussion Legacy Foundation, where Cade is a legacy donor helping to advance research to improve the lives of those affected by repetitive brain trauma.

For more information on BU's CTE research, please visit: https://www.bu.edu/cte/our-research/

You can donate to Concussion Legacy Foundation in memory of Cade at 361 Newbury St., 5th Floor, Boston, MA 02115 or www.concussionfoundation.org/give