WILLIAM F. DENMAN

WILLIAM F. DENMAN
September 11, 1929 - November 27, 2025
William "Bill" Foster Denman, 96, passed away peacefully at his home in Lyons, Colorado, on Thanksgiving Day (Nov. 27, 2025), surrounded by family and caring support. Born Sept. 11, 1929, in Short Hills, New Jersey, Bill was raised in New Jersey and Mississippi during the Great Depression-an experience that shaped his lifelong resilience, work ethic, and compassion.
A scholar with wide-ranging interests, Bill studied engineering, higher education, and English, eventually becoming a professor in both fields and later President of Blackburn College until his retirement in 1989. He and his wife, Nancy Dougherty Denman, made their family home in Santa Fe, where they raised their three children.
A gifted musician and former wrestling athlete and coach, Bill composed anthems, wrote musical scores, played piano by ear, and championed civil rights, multicultural education, and inclusive learning throughout his career. His life connected with history in remarkable ways-he witnessed the Hindenburg disaster, studied alongside Neil Armstrong, and taught future President Bill Clinton.
Bill is survived by his children Brian (Meeri), Courtney, and Ann (Steve), and grandchildren Joe and Kai. The family extends sincere gratitude to Home Instead, Trailwinds, and Hospice for their dedicated care.
Bill's legacy lives on in his family, his students, and the communities he helped shape.