In Memoriam: Will Joe Blake Take A Break?
20 Busy People Could Not Have Accomplished So Much
By Joseph M. Fanganello
For the GPHN
“Let us be Friends” said Joe, quoting Abraham Lincoln. Not enemies, friends!
What a concept. He worked at it, for 86 years. Always in motion. Loco Motion. Statics were rare; dynamics always. Kinesiology. He was a Park Hill guy, a fair sturdy Republican, with a full heart and a competent knowing mind. Former Denver Post columnist Dick Kreck said “he was the most upbeat energetic guy I ever met.” Mayor Mike Hancock said Joe was the “nicest human being he ever knew.” I know no one who would disagree.
He was perpetual motion. To the end. Joe texted me on Feb. 9. “I had some unwelcome ‘visitors’ last week, stage four pancreatic cancer.” It moved so fast he didn’t have time for palliative hospice care. There was not time for him to receive the affection and gratitude of his zillion pals. He was helped in these last few days by his daughter Annie and a few good friends, and those “visitors” shut down his life systems six days later, on Feb. 15. Fast; in motion. Always.
I was most fortunate to be within that big circle of friends for more than four decades. I would call and ask his late wife Elizabeth, is Joe there? “No.” He was in Grand Junction, Colorado Springs, New York, washing the patio, downtown at the CSU office, in Fort Collins, at The Avenue on 17th with his pals solving the world’s problems, on Civil War battlefields, planning a trip, with his grandkids, in Russia/Mongolia with his son Joe, mowing the lawn (by hand, every Wednesday.) Certainly, he spent time at his home, but he was busy.
I would see him walk west on 17th Avenue Parkway to City Park; then a little later he would be hustling east, full head of white hair bent forward, with those blue eyes always focused ahead, most likely with his brain working on the next 20 problems of the day/hour. At his house, he made the martinis, set out the appetizers, cooked the salmon, and listened to you. He listened to you. Always.
His basement was full of awards, mementos, baseballs, citations, photos. Twenty busy people could not have accomplished so much: Boy Scouts, East High, Denver Zoo, Stock Show, Rockies, Coors Field, CSU, FBI, CU, CU Law, RTD, Regis University, Highlands Ranch, Mission Viejo, Chamber of Commerce, and much more. If Denver (and Colorado, and America) had a few more Joe Blakes, we would have many fewer problems. More friends, less enemies.
When Annie called to say he passed, we brought some Virginia whiskey for a visit and a sip in his bedroom. Quiet. With good friends. His life here was, finally, quiet. No motion. His soul moved on, to the next mystery; like a helium balloon drifting to the blue. Free. No Dante’s Inferno.
Is there motion, dynamics, kinesiology, friends in the next mystery? Joe’s legacy and spirit is active and still moves. We can all ask: “may he rest in peace?“ That he can take a break. Finally. What a full, wonderful, competent, friendly life he lived.
Inactive in that next realm? Doubtful.
Joseph M. Fanganello has been a lawyer for 54 years; his family has been in Denver since 1894. He lives in Park Hill.
‘A Model Of Grace’
Services For Joe Blake Set For June 4
Joe Blake’s death in mid-February brought an outpouring of tributes and love from friends the lifelong Park Hillian collected through 86 years.
“Joe was … a tireless advocate for education, and one of the staunchest champions of our students and scholars,” wrote CSU Chancellor Tony Frank. “He was also a model of grace, goodwill, and good humor, whose love of language, passion for ideas, and commitment to this state and its people were unsurpassed.”
Blake grew up in Park Hill, and graduated in 1954 from East High, where he was Head Boy. In addition to his work at Colorado State, where he became the system’s first full-time chancellor, his early career was as an FBI agent. He was a key player in the development of Highlands Ranch, and for many years was the president and CEO of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce.
Blake’s wife, Elizabeth, predeceased him. He is survived by his daughter Anne Patterson (Robert), son Joe Blake, Jr. (Michele), and grandchildren Ben and Tom Patterson and Alex and Evan Blake.
A memorial service has been set for Wednesday, June 4 at 2 p.m. at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, at 1980 Dahlia St.