Kenneth Lee Berry

Kenneth Lee (Ken) Berry, age 64, of Highlands Ranch, CO passed away at home on Good Friday, March 29, 2013 after a valiant 22-month battle against pancreatic cancer. He was born in Keyser, WV on April 6, 1948: a son of the late David A. and Magdalene Emma Berry. On December 16, 1973 he married M. Frances (Fran) Russell who survives. He is also survived by older brothers, David of Plano, TX and Frank (Diana) of Austin, TX; older sisters, Carol Ann Waid (Thomas) of Duncanville, TX and Janice Orr (Richard) of College Station, TX; brother-in-law, George Russell (Tamie) of Catlettsburg, KY; and sister-in-law by marriage, Pam Russell of Ripley, WV. Also surviving are 9 nieces, 8 nephews, 13 grandnieces, 17 grandnephews, 1 great-grandniece, 2 great-grandnephews, and numerous cousins. In addition to his parents, Ken was preceded in death by his sister-in-law, Patricia Chittum Berry; brothers-in-law Phillip Russell, and Robert Russell; and nephew, George Russell, Jr. Ken was a 1966 graduate of Weston High School in Weston, WV. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from West Virginia University in 1974 and his Masters of Arts degree in Education from Lesley College in 1989. Ken taught in elementary schools in Morgantown, WV and Lakewood and Littleton, CO. He was a Teacher on Special Assignment with Jefferson County Public Schools in Lakewood, CO supporting elementary teachers with curriculum design and professional development at the time of his retirement in 1999. After retirement Ken worked as an educational consultant and trainer for Texas Instruments and Zometool, as a mentor teacher and coach for the National Science Foundation-funded COMMSTEP project in Denver, CO, and as adjunct faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver and the University of Colorado, Boulder. He was featured as an outstanding mathematics teacher in national magazine articles in ""Teaching K-8"" (1991) and ""Instructor"" (1993). Ken presented workshop sessions at state, national and international mathematics conferences. His peers recognized him with awards for excellence in mathematics teaching in 1991 and 1992. He was a vocal proponent for ""Mathematics for All"" and was a member of several Colorado teams focused on equity in mathematics education. Ken was a member of Christ Episcopal Church in Denver, CO and served as Board Chair for Treasureland, the church's preschool. He also served as an acolyte, chalice minister, and member of the pastoral prayer team. Prior to Christ Church Ken attended Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Centennial, CO where he served as a Sunday School teacher, Youth Group leader, and choir member. He was a founding Board member of the Zimbabwe Relief Foundation and a meal delivery driver for Project Angel Heart. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, April 20, 2013 at 1:30 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 2950 S. University Blvd., Denver, CO, Fr. Terry McGugan officiating. Interment of Ken's ashes will be in the church's columbarium. In lieu of flowers the family requests contributions be made to either: Hospice of St. John, 1320 Everett Court, Lakewood, CO 80215, www.hospiceofstjohn.org or Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, ATTN: Purple Stride Denver 2013, 1500 Rosecrans Avenue, Suite 200, Manhattan Beach, CA 90266, www.purplestride.org/denver, Please note for: Team FranKen Berry Please share your memories of Ken and condolences with his family by signing the guestbook.