Ronald Bloomer

1935 - 2021

Ronald Dudley "Pete" Bloomer, long-time Boulder-area resident, passed away Jan. 21, 2021, from heart failure at his home in Niwot, Colo. He was 85. In losing Pete, we've lost a great man, a true individualist and fearless adventurer who approached each day with fierce determination and optimism. Competitive and tenacious, he pursued excellence -- in business, raising a family, golf, skiing, scuba diving, coaching... truly everything -- with good-natured passion and commitment. Pete was born Dec. 24, 1935, to Ronald Dudley Bloomer and Ruth Hester Bloomer in Binghamton, N.Y. He graduated from St. Lawrence University in 1957 with a degree in Economics and went to work for IBM in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. In March 1961, Pete married Jacqueline Alice Hauser in Buffalo, N.Y. They raised a family and remained together until she passed away in 2000. Pete married Donna Jo Pope July 8, 2006, in Niwot, and they remained together for the rest of his life. In 1970, Pete left IBM and went West to become head of marketing for the tennis division of Head Ski Co., then headquartered in Boulder. He later became operations manager for another well-known Boulder sports company, Hanson Industries. In 1983, Pete co-founded Colorado Venture Management, a venture-capital firm focused on start-up and early-stage businesses around the West, serving as chairman and CEO. He worked hard, enjoyed his success, and continued working full-time into his mid-70s (though in truth, he never did quite retire). In fact, Pete never did anything halfway. He didn't merely play golf; he became a professional, playing on several mini-tours and coaching his son Gary and granddaughter Kelly to varsity spots on NCAA Division I teams at CU Boulder and William & Mary, respectively. With his daughter Tracy, he undertook challenging bicycle tours in the Canadian Rockies and France. Pete was not just an outstanding skier -- friends and family often said he was the best they'd ever seen -- but also a great pro ski instructor. And instead of merely getting certified to scuba dive, Pete became a Master Scuba Diver, the highest non-professional rating in the sport. Always fearless, he summited ice-crowned Mount Rainier, among the five most dangerous peaks in the Lower 48 states. Even after back surgery limited his mobility in later years, Pete continued to pursue his love for adventure, joining the Mile-Hi Jeep Club. He loved joining new friends on four-wheel treks around Colorado in his fully tricked-out Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. He also continued to coach golfers at Boulder Country Club. Above all, Pete fiercely loved his family. And though he didn't always say it out loud, he also adored his animals. He is survived by his wife, Donna Pope, of Niwot; daughter Tracy Moran and her husband Patrick Moran, M.D., of Boulder; son Gary Dudley Bloomer and his wife Betty, of Bozeman, Mont.; four grandchildren, Kelly, Katie, Casey, and Riley; and two sisters, Susan Rice of Captain Hook, Hawaii, and Nancy Bloomer of Essex Junction, Vt. The family plans to hold a get-together to celebrate Pete's life at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the U.S. Hunger Relief Network/Feeding America at feedingamerica.org or 161 North Clark St., Suite 700, Chicago, IL 60601, or a local food bank of the donor's choice. For online messages to the family visit www.murphyfuneraldirectors.com.