August 21, 1932 – September 23, 2022
We are saddened to announce the passing of Leslie Bertram Dever of Glenwood Springs, Colorado, on September 23, 2022 in California, where he was with family on hospice.
Bert was born on August 21, 1932 to Margaret Dawson Dever and Charles Otto Dever in Glenwood Springs. Bert graduated from Colorado University, in Boulder, with a bachelor’s degree in political science; this experience helped to solidify his passion for civic engagement. Bert served in the Army in Korea and was briefly married to Glenwoodite Judith Juhan. He eventually retired from Alameda County, in California, where had raised his only child, with the help of his beloved aunt, Ethel Dawson.
Bert returned to spend most of his final decades in Glenwood Springs, where he rekindled old friendships and nurtured strong newer bonds. Bert rarely met anyone who did not grow to love him.
Bert had an encyclopedic knowledge and ardent appreciation of jazz. He attended just about every Summer of Jazz concert, and he relished every syncopated riff into his final days.
Bert was a man who appreciated the natural world and held deep respect for human and animal life alike. He spent much of his time exploring the creeks and wooded areas near Glenwood with his beloved dogs. An avid angler, Bert knew the mountain streams of the Western Slope well and could often be seen fly fishing on their banks.
His loss will be deeply felt by the people of Glenwood Springs, for whom he was a beloved fixture and fast friend of many decades.
He is survived by his daughter, Jacqueline, son-in-law, Tad, and granddaughter, Audrey, in California; surviving family members in Illinois include his brother, Charles, and nephews Scott and David.
A memorial service will be held to honor Bert on September 5, at 2 p.m., at the Glenwood Methodist church. In lieu of flowers, the family would welcome donations to Bert’s favorite charity, Colorado Animal Rescue: https://www.coloradoanimalrescue.org/