Dennis Elwood Westbrook

Dennis Elwood Westbrook, age 85, died peacefully on October 23, 2023, at his home in Lakewood, Colorado, from complications of prostate cancer. Dennis was born on September 9, 1938, in Anchorage, Alaska to Dale Elwood Westbrook and Edna Ellanah (nee Chample) Westbrook. When Dennis was a young child, his family moved to Lakewood. He graduated from Lakewood High School in 1956. He married his high school sweetheart and next-door neighbor, Sylvia Joanne Froehler, on December 29, 1956. They had four children, Nancy, David, Michael & Deena. In 1989 Dennis and Sylvia divorced, but remained friends. Dennis then enjoyed 32 wonderful years with his second spouse, George Witman. Dennis followed his mother into the teaching profession. After graduating from the Colorado State College of Education (now University of Northern Colorado) in 1960, he taught English for Jeffco Public Schools for 34 years. Some of the schools he taught at include Carmody Junior High School, Golden High School, Open Living School, and Wheatridge High School. Dennis was devoted to his students. He embraced his role as a social-emotional educator long before the term was coined, and realized that teaching English was secondary to helping his students develop self-awareness, self-control, and interpersonal skills. One day, a student ran into Dennis' classroom and hid under his desk. When Dennis learned more about this student's home environment, he and Sylvia became licensed foster parents so that they could offer this student a home. They eventually fostered four teenagers, while also raising their biological children. Dennis also realized that traditional education does not work for every student. He was one of the founding parents and educators of Open Living School. Dennis' oldest child was one of OLS' inaugural kindergarten students, and all his children eventually attended OLS. As a young adult, Dennis liked to hike, whitewater raft, fish, and camp. He helped lead several student whitewater rafting trips. Family vacations were almost exclusively camping trips all over Colorado. Dennis instilled his love of the outdoors in his children and grandchildren. Dennis' other passions included art (jewelry making, painting, pottery, stained glass); cooking (including some catering); gardening (especially daylilies and iris); and music (he played the piano, organ, accordion, banjo, recorder, and harmonica, and composed several pieces). Dennis volunteered for many organizations, including Cenikor, the American Foundation for the Blind, and Jefferson Unitarian Church, where he and George were members. Dennis is survived by his husband, George Witman; his children Nancy (Patrick) Thome of Baraboo, WI; David (Wendy Hodsdon) Westbrook of Portland, OR; Michael (Jennifer) Westbrook of Arvada, CO; and Deena (Joseph) Cardinal of Lafayette, CO; his grandchildren, John (Christa) Westbrook of Arvada, CO; James Westbrook of Kirkland, WA; Courtney McKinney of Laramie, WY; Elizabeth Thome of Portland, OR; Sydney (Jonathan) Cruz of Oregon City, OR; Ty Westbrook of Arvada, CO; Maxwell Thome of Baraboo, WI; Avery McKinney of Lafayette, CO; and Tori Westbrook of Arvada, CO; his ex-wife and friend Sylvia (Claude) Hiler of Casper, WY; his brothers, Dean Westbrook of Mt. Angel, OR, and Dale Westbrook of Colorado Springs, CO; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Please contact George Witman if you would like details. In lieu of flowers, Dennis requested that contributions be sent to Boys Town, 14100 Crawford Street, Boys Town, NE 68010. The family would like to thank St. Joseph Hospital, Tru Hospice, and Kaiser Health for their compassionate care.