Miles DeCotiis Obituary

January 12, 1971 - May 9, 2008. Miles was born in Madison, Wisconsin on January 12, 1971, to Thomas A. and Mary Sue DeCotiis. Miles's life ended in a traffic accident on the evening of May 9, 2008, in Thornton, Colorado. He will be greatly missed. Miles's life was a gift to all who knew him. He was a gentle person with a great sense of humor and kind-hearted spirit that endeared him to all. As a child he loved dance, music, theater and sports. As an adult he pursued a life that kept him in touch with the beauty of the outdoors and the thrill of back-country snowboarding and hiking. Into adulthood his love of music was a strong source of inspiration and comfort. Miles was a loving son, brother, grandson, nephew and uncle. After learning his trade as a carpenter, he attended Ft. Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. While there he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and social services. After graduation he returned to carpentry because he loved to work with his hands. Miles is survived by his father, Tom DeCotiis, and stepmother, Marta Erhard, of Colorado Springs, CO; his mother, Mary Sue DeCotiis, of Jacksonville, NY; his sister, Meredith DeCotiis Szypula, of Colorado Springs, CO; his uncle, George Richard Chapin, of Carlsbad, CA; his aunt, Toncha Jean Campbell, of San Diego, CA; and his grandfather, Alphonse DeCotiis, of San Diego, CA. Miles's family will commemorate his life in a closed service in Colorado Springs. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Miles Thomas DeCotiis Legacy Fund, The Catamount Institute, 740 W. Caramillo, Colorado Springs, CO 80907. Given his love of the outdoors, the Catamount Institute, which is dedicated to inspiring ecological stewardship through research, education and leadership, seems a fitting way to remember this joyous young man.