Richard Folan Obituary

Folan
Richard Denis
Folan
May 23, 1952
June 17, 2025

Richard Denis Folan of Colorado Springs, CO, passed away on June 17, 2025, after a sudden fight with lung disease.
Richard was born May 23, 1952, in Norwood, MA, to hard-working parents, John Thomas Folan and Mary Scullin Folan. He was the youngest of five children, with older siblings John (Jack) Jr, Mary Lou, Paul, and Anne Marie. With the early passing of his father at a young age, and his mother supporting the family as a school nurse, Richard grew up working a variety of jobs, his most notable being his years he spent as a golf caddy, which began a lifelong passion for golf.
After graduating from St. Anselm College in 1974, Richard joined the United States Peace Corps and moved to South Korea to work with the Leprosy Control Program. This marked both his first time leaving the country and his first time on an airplane. He lived in rural South Korea, working in leprosy case finding and health education. After completing his Peace Corps service, he stayed in Korea, taking advanced Korean language classes while teaching GED classes to GIs, before enrolling in medical school at Yonsei University. He completed 2 years of medical school in Korea, then transferred to Georgetown University, where he graduated in 1983. It was in Washington, DC, that he met his wife, Kyungsoon (Kay) Moon, as the only red-headed Irishman who spoke fluent Korean. They married on May 30th, 1983 at Georgetown Chapel with a reception at Thompson's Boathouse, overlooking the Potomac River.
Together, they moved to Hanover, NH, for Rich's internal medicine internship and residency at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. They then moved to Chinle, AZ, and worked for 3 years in the Indian Health Service. While living in Chinle, they welcomed their son, Denis Moon Folan. Upon completing his time with the Indian Health Service, he returned to Dartmouth-Hitchcock to complete his Gastroenterology Fellowship. Back in Hanover, their daughter, Jeannie Moon Folan, was born.
Having finally completed his years of medical training, Rich and Kay chose Colorado as the location to put down roots. Rich began his gastroenterology career in Pueblo, CO. After a few years, they relocated their family to Colorado Springs, where he entered into solo practice, before ultimately creating Gastroenterology Associates of Colorado Springs and one of the first ambulatory surgery centers in the region. After both his children graduated from medical school (Denis- Rocky Vista University 2017, and Jeannie- Georgetown University 2019), he retired from medicine in 2019.
Rich held a lifelong love of sports. In college he played on the Division 2 ice hockey, and earned the MVP of his downhill skiing team. He and his family skied throughout his life. His avid interest in golf began at age 11 when he began working as a caddy. He continued a lifelong golf career, and particularly loved his trips with his brother Paul. He played countless rounds with a wide-reaching group of wonderful and supportive friends, who kindly passed him their pocket change whenever they could.
Richard is survived by his wife, Kay, children: Denis (Kristin) and Jeannie (Andrew), grandchildren: Lina (2) and Clover (1), and siblings: Mary Lou and Anne Marie, as well as many nieces, nephews, and close friends.
Rich requested that he be remembered with a "big party", which will be held on July 12, 2025, at Flying Horse Club (East Hotel, Barolo Room) from 2 pm-5 pm. His remains will be at Mount Saint Francis Columbarium.
Memorial donations in Richard's name can be sent to Evans Scholars Foundation (college scholarship program for caddies, WGAESF.org) or First Tee Southern Colorado (youth golf development program, firstteesoco.org).