Todd Curtis

1966 - 2023

Todd Curtis

July 30, 1966 ~ March 18, 2023

Well, if you're reading this, my grand adventure has come to an end, albeit about two decades too early, in my honest opinion.

I was born in Salt Lake City to Gary and Deanne Curtis and underwent surgery a few hours later to deal with the effects of spina bifida. While the doctors weren't all that positive about what life would hold for me, mom and dad vowed to make the best of it. After a few months, it was apparent that I had movement in my legs, and I underwent several surgeries over the next several years to give me as much mobility as possible.

During that time, mom and dad were told that if they wanted a normal child to raise him like one. If they wanted to have a handicapped child to raise him like one. I crawled at 7 or 8 months. I walked at 13 months (while wearing braces that weighed at least half of what I did). I learned to ride a bike. I learned to swim. I took scuba lessons. I mowed my own lawn. I hiked across the world. So much for being handicapped.

When I was 4, mom, dad and I moved to Copperton and were soon joined by my little brothers Andy and Aaron. Copperton at that time was something akin to "Leave It to Beaver" – an idyllic place where lifelong friendships were formed. I was active in church activities, including Scouting, and earned my Eagle and Silver Palm.

I graduated from Bingham High School in 1984 and attended the College of Eastern Utah in Price on a journalism scholarship. It was there that I found my calling in life as a journalist, serving on the staff of The Eagle – the school newspaper – first as a reporter and then as editor.

It was also there that I was recruited for speech team, where I learned to control my big mouth, think quickly on my feet and form (mostly) coherent sentences.

After graduating from CEU with an associate degree, I attended the University of Utah to finish up my bachelor's degree in journalism. While at the U., I was a reporter at The Chronicle, where I covered what many considered the boring stuff – the administration, the student Senate, state government and the Utah Legislature. It was during this time that I learned to dig through scads of information and formulate probing and thoughtful questions, skills I used the rest of my life.

In 1987, I was given a distinguished alumni award from CEU in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

While at the U., I got a part-time job compiling sports statistics for the Deseret News, and after graduating, I was hired full time as a copy editor. During my nearly 36 years at the paper, I was a copy editor, wire editor, assistant feature editor and then finally a copy editor again, serving as copy chief. While at the Deseret News I forged deep and binding friendships with some of the best people in the world. We laughed together, cried together, swore together and worked our behinds off to put out the best product we could. Looking back, I think we succeeded, thank you very much.

And last year, my colleagues at the Deseret News and other news organizations across the state gave me the Utah Headliners Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists' Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor for which I was deeply humbled.

When I was 25, I cut the apron strings and moved to my little house just south of Liberty Park, a neighborhood that reminded me of Copperton in so many ways. And it was while living there that I befriended -- and was befriended by -- so many wonderful people who opened my eyes to all the world has to offer – beer and traveling, to name two.

And it was with those friends that I explored the globe: Canada, Mexico, Portugal, Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Hungary, Germany, Poland, England, Japan, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. (My two favorite memories? Seeing Pope John Paul II ordain cardinals and hiking the Cinque Terre.)

When I wasn't traveling or at the Deseret News, you could find me puttering in the yard, working on the New York Times crossword puzzle or sitting on the patio and sharing good food (and a beer or cocktail) with incredible friends.

I would like to thank Dr. Scott Samuelson and his team at the Utah Cancer Specialists for their care over the past year. I would also like to thank the staff at Elevation Hospice, especially my nurse Rae.

Survived by my parents, brothers Andy (Suzan), Aaron (Hollie), Nephew Andrew Evan, Nieces Abigail and Olivia.

In lieu of flowers please donate to the Primary Children's Hospital or charity of your choice.

Funeral services will be held Saturday March 25, 2023, at 11:00 am Jenkins – Soffe Funeral Home 1007 W South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah.

Viewing will be Friday March 24, 2023 from 5 – 8 pm and on Saturday March 25, 2023 from 10:00 – 10:45 am. Jenkins – Soffe Funeral Home 1007 W South Jordan Parkway, South Jordan, Utah.