Patricia Ann Richards

Patricia Ann Richards passed away on December 6, 2009 at Balfour Nursing Home. Pat was born April 15, 1922 to Mary and Charles St. John on a ranch in southwestern South Dakota, near Kyle. Growing up she and her 4 siblings shared a ride on two horses 4-1/2 miles each way to a one room schoolhouse where the horses were turned out into the school yard to graze. The students took turns bringing coal or wood to heat the school; there was one teacher for eight grades and 30 students. They received a first class education. For high school she had to move to Rushville, Nebraska and live with her grandparents. To pay her room and board, she worked delivering handbills and at the 5 and Dime Store. Her graduating class of 1939 was the largest, before or since. She attended Chadron State College. Pat married Merlin Richards on October 3, 1940 and soon moved to Great Lakes Naval Training Station where she worked for the U.S. Navy for 4 years. After World War II, she and her husband returned to Nebraska where they owned and operated the Gordon Journal. In 1948 they moved to Denver where she continued her education at CU Extension and the Emily Griffith Opportunity School. Pat obtained her Colorado Real Estate License on June 26, 1957. In 1958 Pat joined the Denver Board Realtors. After holding every other office on the Board, in 1975 she became the first woman president. She was named the Denver Realtor of the Year in 1976. She served on every committee on the Colorado Board of Realtors and in 1983 was voted Colorado Realtor of the Year. She served 4 years on the Federal National Mortgage Association in Washington, D.C. (Fannie Mae) and was a member of the National Board of Realtors. She was the first woman appointed to the Colorado Real Estate Commission, where she served many years. She also served on the Board of Historic Denver and recently served on the Colorado Board of Assessors. Pat's favorite programs focused on the City of Denver where she worked with Mayor McNichols' Office and the Zoning Board to prevent the 25' residential lots from becoming non-lendable, and especially on what is known as the Denver Building Code Chapter 31, which allowed for the rehabilitation of lower downtown Denver, thereby saving many of Denver's historic buildings, including Tivoli Brewery. Mayor Hickenlooper proclaimed April 15, 2007, her 85th birthday, as Pat Richards' Day in Denver. Throughout this time she was active in the Denver Public Schools, various PTA's, the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts of America, and as a horseback counselor for the Rawhiders 4-H Club. In her spare time, she was an avid golfer and skier. Pat defined her professional role as helping people own their own homes, while striving to improve the quality and image of all realtors. As a result, she has made countless friends. Pat was preceded in death by her husband; her younger son, Robert; and two sisters, Donna St. John and Lois Lukens. She is survived by her older son Thomas; her granddaughter, Jennifer and her husband Nick; her two brothers, Roger and Anton St. John; and many nieces and nephews. Pat will be missed by her many friends and colleagues and especially her family. A Visitation will be held from 2:00-5:00PM, Friday, December 11, Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood. A Funeral Service will be held at 1:30PM, Saturday, December 12, at Notre Dame Roman Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver. A Graveside Service will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Rushville, Nebraska. Pat's favorite charities were the Boy Scouts of America and the Southwest Denver YMCA.