Elizabeth Feldman

Elizabeth Swan Feldman was born in Cincinnati on Christmas 1942 and passed away in Denver on August 17, 2014. Liz went to public high school in Syracuse, NY, followed by Le Moyne College also in Syracuse. She was an active member of the International House, through which she was a volunteer in a village in Mexico. This period was the beginning of her strong committment to civil rights and social justice. A long career as an English teacher began with two years at a junior high school in Lafayette, New York. This was followed by a year as a VISTA volunteer in Adams County, Colorado in a project that involved the juvenile court and a school district. Soon after, she began teaching English and reading at Adams County Junior High School. In June 1969, she married Henry Feldman who had also been a VISTA volunteer in Adams County in the same period. Their first child, David, was born on Liz’ 31st birthday. From 1974-78, they lived in San Francisco where Henry went to law school. Liz’ focus was on child development and on nurturing Dave. She also developed her pottery skills and taught beginning potters. In February 1978, son Jack was born a few months before a move back to Colorado. When Jack began school, Liz returned to teaching. After temporary assignments at Manual and East High Schools, she landed at George Washington High School for about 25 years. For most of that time, she taught freshman composition and senior advanced placement literature. Her major commitment was the Gay-Straight Alliance and the district wide and state wide organizations that provided support to the student groups working to end bullying and other homophobic harassment. In the 1980s, Liz began volunteering as an interpreter in the large exhibits at the Museum of Nature and Science, including exhibits dealing with many different ancient cultures. In 2010, Liz retired from teaching. Granddaughter Billie was born that August, and Liz took care of her and taught her three days a week. Liz’ battle with brain cancer began in November 2011. Through much of that time, she was able to continue the pursue the projects that were important to her including the museum volunteering and acting as a Eucharistic Minister taking communion to people confined to their homes or hospital rooms. Liz will be missed by her husband of 45 years, Henry, sons David and Jack, daughter in law Ashley, grandchildren Billie and Reid, brother and sister in law Michael and Elsie Peregrin and their children Nina, Amy, and Christopher, sister in law and brother in law Barbara Feldman and Brian Sheldon and their children James, Rebecca, and Martha, and countless friends, colleagues, and students. Funeral to be held on Friday, August 29, 2014 at 3:00 pm, at St. Francis de Sales, 300 S. Sherman Street, Denver.