Helen Masterson

On Wednesday, April 24, 2024, Helen Masterson passed away peacefully.

Helen Lucille Kiley Masterson was born in Greeley, Colorado, to Ray and Lucille Kiley on September 3, 1934. After graduating from Greeley High School, she attended her favorite college, the University of Colorado in Boulder, where she studied history and then journalism. She was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority and stayed active in the organization her entire life.

Helen was kind and thoughtful, always sending a card to a friend for a birthday or loss, or attending a function to be supportive. She was a committed and active member of her community. She was on several boards for local chambers, business organizations, and the Denver Woman’s Press Club where she also served as their President. She also enjoyed the various business or social groups and looked forward to their weekly or monthly gatherings. She called herself “a cradle Episcopalian” and was very involved in her church, St. James Episcopal Church in Wheat Ridge, by serving on the Vestry and several committees.

One of Helen’s talents was her incredible wordsmithing. She had a keen wit and intelligent sense of humor. Whatever she was writing about, she researched thoroughly and found unusual facts that helped complete the story. Her lists of unusual facts or trivia were long. Her favorite use of wit was in her Christmas cards. She would giggle at her ideas with her bright, infectious smile.

In the 80s, she hosted a local television show on Denver’s CBS Channel 4 called Denver Showcase. She interviewed community members and Hollywood stars such as Gary Coleman and Betty White. Her love for finding interesting facts about almost anything made her show fun and unique and her interviews enjoyable.

Her writing skills and wit served her well in her professional life. She worked at Education Commission of the States for whom she traveled to Washington DC and Boston, often attending parties with some of DC’s top brass. Helen also worked at The Denver Art Museum as the Public Information Officer, and Ned High Public Relations as an Account Executive. In the 60s, she worked for the original Guestguide Publishers in one of her first jobs as a writer. In 1995, Helen went into business with her daughter Susie with the new GuestGuide Publications as the Editor-in-Chief. Yet her favorite job was at her beloved University of Colorado where she was the Public Information Officer. She was really proud of being at press conferences when the CU Space Program was part of a NASA project, sending images back from Saturn’s rings. 

Another great accomplishment was starting her own company Masterson & Friends Communications with clients large and small who loved the way she took care of them and kept things fun at the same time. Her office, Suite B, was part of her humor. Newspapers and television channels received press releases from Suite B, never knowing B was for the basement of her home. 

Her accomplishments are impressive yet only speak of one aspect of who Helen was. She was an avid sports fan and she knew her teams well. Helen loved watching the CU Buffs and Denver Broncos play, yet she spent most stressful games in the kitchen, not cooking, just not able to actually watch the game. If the play was good, she would run out and watch the replay. She rarely cried, except for when the Broncos first went to the SuperBowl in 1977, and when they eventually won it twenty years later. Watching her watch a game was almost more entertaining than the game itself.

She skied until she was 79 and played golf into her 80s with a mean short game. She had a love of adventure and was ready for most anything. 

Helen’s greatest joy was her family. She raised two daughters, Kathleen and Susie, on her own, and with help from the amazing village she had around her. She rarely missed a game, competition, or school event her girls were in. Her two grandchildren, Mallory and John, made her the happiest. She loved being an integral part of their growing up and taking them to school, games, dances, anything. Helen was a protector, a confidant, a resource of knowledge, a beacon of wisdom, and she always found ways to stay engaged in their lives. Her grandchildren loved and craved time with their grandmother. Helen instilled a level of discipline to her children and grandchildren that has allowed them to thrive in many facets of life and business.

Helen’s life speaks to the fact that Helen wasn't just a mother, a grandmother, a friend, a colleague. She embodied so much more and set a standard for how to live life with purpose and fulfillment. 

Known as Helen to all, Hellie to her friends, H.L. to family, G-MA to her two grandkids, St. Helen, Mom, or Mama Bear to her two daughters, she was a comforting lap to her dog Sadie. Helen is now in heaven with her beloved granddaughter Mallory whom we lost to cancer in 2017. No doubt they are enjoying a cocktail and happy to be together again.

Raise a glass to our Helen with her favorite drink- bourbon with water, but not too much water as we are in a drought! 

An Episcopal service will be held at 11am on June 11, 2024 at St John’s Cathedral, 1350 North Washington Street Denver, CO. A reception will follow at the Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York St, Denver, CO.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to one of Helen’s favorite things-

Denver Woman’s Press Club Scholarship fund: DWPConline.org