Rick Shanks

James Richard Shanks (aka Rick, Sweet Ricky, Smiley) was 74 when he left us at Swedish Medical Center on February 2, 2021, following a long battle with cancer.

He was born December 7, 1946 in Denver, spent most of his life in Colorado, and for the last 28 years has lived in Cherry Hills Village. Rick started working as a golf caddie at Green Gables Country Club as a teenager and received an Evans Scholarship for golf caddies to attend the University of Colorado at Boulder, where he was a member of Kappa Sigma fraternity. He was an excellent (almost scratch) golfer and found his life’s work in the golf and restaurant industries. He worked at Boulder Country Club while at CU, at various restaurants in NY state and Denver, and for Denver Golf for many years. Rick eventually fulfilled a life-long dream in December 1983 by opening the Pearl Street Grill in south Denver with partners Rich Director, Patrick Lyng, and Paul Murray. Mr. Shanks, as he was affectionately called at the Grill, managed there until it was sold on September 1, 2001 to John Hickenlooper’s Wynkoop Brewing Company. He retired at that time to spend time with his wife and loving blue and red heelers, Mathilda, Tasman, Hobie, Brizzie, and Josie. Mr. Shanks was set in his ways and remained a confirmed Luddite (no cell phone) until the end.

Rick is survived by his wife and soul mate, Nancy Hoffman Shanks; his brother, Ron Shanks of Rock Springs, Wyoming; cousin, Mark Guthrie (Marcy) of Ken Karyl Ranch; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Preston and Ann Hoffman Granbery of New Vernon, NJ; and numerous nieces and nephews, as well as countless other close friends, particularly Joey and Dede Pahl. He was preceded by his mother Doris Evelyn Rosebrook Shanks and her three sisters.

Those wishing to honor him are invited to make memorial contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 658 S. Colorado Blvd, Glendale, CO 80246; the Evans Scholars Foundation, 2501 Patriot Blvd., Glenview, IL 60026; or the Nature Conservancy, 2424 Spruce St., Boulder, CO 80302.