Richard Kates Obituary

Richard (Dick) Alexander Kates died at home surrounded by his beloved family on May 6, 2009 at the age of 74. His full life began in Brooklyn, New York, son of Joan Marie Dua and Irving Kates on November 22, 1934. He attended Peddie School in New Jersey where he was a star athlete and valedictorian of his class. Summers were spent with his family at their lake house in Hopatcong, New Jersey, fishing and racing small outboard engine boats. Mr. Kates graduated from Yale University in 1956 with a B.A. in Political Science. He was a member of Chi Phi fraternity. While a student at Yale, Mr. Kates met the love of his life, Sue Ann Glenn, of Leechburg Pennsylvania, who was a student at Smith College. After graduating from Yale they were married in 1957. Mr. Kates then served four years in the Naval Air Corps flying the Airborne Early Warning Squadron, between Newfoundland and the Azore Islands. They welcomed their first child, daughter Robin the following year. Upon leaving the service, Mr. Kates completed graduate school at the University of Wisconsin with a Master’s degree in Economics and Real Estate Appraisal. After graduation, he headed west to Colorado with his young family. He joined Ted Hitchings as a real estate appraiser in 1962, became a Member of The Appraisal Institute. He appraised thousands of acres of lands in the West including The Grand Canyon Dam, and many now historic sites in Denver including The Security Life Building. Their second child, son Ben, was born in Denver in 1962. In 1964 Mr. Kates purchased an historic firehouse on Sixth Avenue and Ogden Street in Denver, converting it to the first full service carwash in this part of the country. The Firehouse Carwash soon became a Denver institution, and for the next 30 years was ranked 3rd in the industry west of the Mississippi River. At the time of his retirement in 1987, Mr. Kates employed 78 people full-time, providing education funds, health plans, and retirement benefits for his long-time employees. Mr. Kates enjoyed spending time with his family, playing tennis, golf and squash, hiking, fishing and his passion, running. He competed in numerous marathons including the New York, Boston, the Mount Evans races. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of cars and loved to restore and show antique jaguars. After his retirement at the age of 61, he moved to Colorado Springs where he joined The Broadmoor Golf Club, and The Garden of the Gods Club, where he devoted his time to playing golf, traveling, tinkering with cars and doting on his grandchildren. He was started instrumental in starting The Old Broadmoor Neighborhood Association, and served on the board of the Broadmoor Information and Security. He is survived by his wife, Sue, of 53 years, daughter Robin Fischer, son Ben ,his sister Constance Werbin, and grandchildren Peter, Catharine, Ellen, Samuel, Hannah, Josephine and great-grandchild Nikole. A Memorial Service will be held at The Chapel of our Saviour, 8 4th St., Colorado Springs on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation made either to the Colorado Springs Philharmonic (P.O. Box 60730 Colorado Springs, Co. 80960), or to The Colorado Springs Rescue Mission (5 W Las Vegas St. Colorado Springs, CO 80903) would be greatly appreciated.