Obituary of Saralee "Sally" Spivak

Sally Spivak was everybody’s friend. Her pleasant personality, genuine interest in other people, and willingness to help out were widely appreciated. She loved getting together with family or friends and was always ready for a game of Bridge or Ma-Jong. She was the social director for years at the Candlewyk condos and organized many activities.

Her first love was family. Not just Dave, her husband of 51 years, or her children Gary, Paul, Marla and Laurie (Morris), or her nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren, but all the spouses, nieces, nephews and cousins of a large extended family. She kept in touch with everyone and was most happy when we could all get together for family reunions. When she started using a computer she proudly put together a family tree and kept it up to date with every new marriage or child. Following in her own mother’s footsteps she hosted meals for her family at all holidays and provided a binding force that has helped her children have a close and amiable relationship through the years.

Sally is remembered as a teacher by many Denver Jews of a certain generation. She taught kindergarten at Beth Joseph religious school for 25 years. Later in life she earned a teaching degree from Metro and got a great deal of enjoyment teaching young children at Head Start and as a substitute in the Denver Public Schools.

Saralee Susman was born in Denver December 18, 1928 to Morris and Bertha Susman. She grew up in the Jewish neighborhood of Denver’s West Side. It was a time she remembered as happy and safe, knowing all the neighbors and having many friends her age. Several of them were her friends all her life. She was also close to her younger brother Bobby. She graduated from North High School in 1946 and attended the University of Denver for two years before marrying David Spivak on March 27, 1949. She was always active with raising the kids, teaching and participating in community organizations. As the kids grew up and moved away, Sally and Dave began their frequent travels together, visiting places all over the world and playing golf together. These were happy years until Dave died in 2000.

In recent years her mind remained sharp but her physical condition would not let her do all the things she wanted to do. She passed away peacefully on November 29, 1922.

Service, Friday, 12/2, 1:30pm, Rose Hill Cemetery. Livestream on Feldman Mortuary's YouTube Channel by clicking here at the time of the service- https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC7CQNliXtxRvoOGVZvmH-kg

Contributions to HEA or Spivak Bee Innovation Fund.