Robert O. Bonacquisti Sr.

Robert O. Bonacquisti Sr., 88, of Brighton, passed away July 31, 2015.
Robert was born in Delagua, the son of immigrant parents, and was the eighth of nine children. He graduated "most likely to succeed" from Trinidad High School in the class of 1947. After working on the ranch it was off to Detroit to work the produce terminal with his brothers.

It was there he was introduced to the jewelry trade and met his soon-to-be-wife, Lucille. In 1959, he relocated his family to Colorado and resided in Lakewood. You can take the cowboy out of Colorado, but the cowboy needed to return.

In 1972, he moved the family out of the city to the countryside of Brighton and established the Bonny-Lu Ranch. Robert worked as a self-employed trade jeweler and diamond setter in the Empire Building in downtown Denver and opened his first retail jewelry store in 1976 in Brighton. Once in Brighton, Robert began to raise cattle, sheep and hogs. But it was his love for horses that lead him into raising and racing thoroughbreds including the champion Chain Links Dream.

As a local prominent businessman, he supported the local 4-H and area high schools and was a member of the Knights of Columbus, Elks Lodge and Optimist Club. He was a member of St. Augustine Catholic Church and, while Robert was working the ranch and jewelry store, Lucille was the backbone that provided the stability for him to pursue his dreams.

Robert and Lucille closed the jewelry store and retired in 2000. Even in retirement, he continued to put the flags out around Brighton on every American holiday with the Optimist Club. Robert loved to play poker at the Elks and Shanghai Rummy with family.

A former neighbor recently said, "There is no one in the world that matches his wonderful smile, his laughter, and his ability to never meet a stranger. How bright his star in heaven will be."

Robert is survived by his wife; two daughters, Susan (Frank) Menegatti of Walsenberg and Roberta Zellermaier of Denver; two sons, Bob (Debi) Bonacquisti of Cypress, Texas, and Paul (Judi) Bonacquisti of Denver; eight grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, Tony, John and Dominic; and five sisters, Edith, Mary, Joanne, Jean and Rose Maria.

Visitation will be at 6 p.m., Aug. 6, followed by a Rosary at 7 p.m., both of which will be at Tabor-Rice Funeral Home, 75 S. 13th Ave., Brighton. Tabor-Rice handled the arrangements. A Mass of Christian burial starts at 11 a.m., Aug. 7, at St. Augustine Catholic Church, 178 S. Sixth Ave., Brighton. Interment will follow at Elmwood Cemetery, Brighton.