Richard J. Whalen

Rick Whalen-Richard J. Whalen II, 58 Rick died of coronary artery disease at his home in Littleton, Colorado. Rick is the third of eight children born to Richard and Mary Jeanne (Collins) Whalen. Rick was born September 6, 1955 in Lansing Michigan. Living in a military family, Rick frequently moved throughout his childhood. He moved to Arlington, VA at age 7 until age 16 attending his first year of high school at Washington-Lee High School, moved for a year to Decatur, GA where he attended Tower High School, and in his senior year he moved to Lakewood, CO and graduated from Alameda High School.

With his kind and gentle nature Rick had a singular ability to make friends wherever he went and keep them close throughout his life. If you were a friend of a friend, you were now a friend of Rick's. He was elated that new technology allowed him to keep in close contact with everyone he cared for; Rick loved so many people and was and will always be loved by them. Rick loved learning and reading, very much the bookworm, especially when it came to history. Rick was also a great storyteller with a quick wit and could relate a fictional historical event and have you totally convinced that's exactly what occurred. He was passionate about documenting his very large family's history and had hundreds of old family photos that he was sharing and preserving for them.

He also took great pleasure in the classes he was attending at Arapahoe Community College before his passing; he simply had a thirst for learning. Rick loved Colorado's natural beauty and enjoyed taking pictures of the many astonishing sites he would see during his explorations in the hills. In his younger years he enjoyed kayaking and white river rafting. Rick was a fanatic for sports. He liked watching the local high school teams play, but like any true Coloradan, his heart belonged to the Broncos and the Rockies. If you're ever at Coors Field look for the brick that bears Rick's name.

Rick's many friends and loved ones remember fondly the wonderful conversations they had, his infectious laughter, great sense of humor, hilarious stories, and his wonderful ability to love life. He was taken from us so unexpectedly and far too soon. Rick is survived by his father, Colonel Retired Richard J. Whalen, his sisters: Mary Towe, Ginny Price, Mary Jo Petrelli, Patti Hope Lewis, Kay Whalen Rutherford, Barbara Whalen, and brother Michael Whalen, a multitude of cousins, nieces and nephews, and several great-nephews and great-nieces. He was preceded in death by his mother Mary Jeanne and cousins Brian Parks and Colleen Duncan Losa, with whom he is joyfully reunited.


A Celebration of Rick's Life will be heldat 1:00pm, Saturday, May 10, at the Golden Community Center, Community Room 1470 10th Street, Golden, CO.

In lieu of flowers please consider a contribution in Rick's Memory to the Denver Dumb Friends League 2080 Quebec St. Denver, CO 80231 Please come celebrate Rick's life with us.


To leave a special message for Rick's family, please visit the guestbook below.