Obituary of Renee Leslie Myers

Renee Leslie Myers
August 7, 1951 – December 7, 2024

Renee Leslie Myers, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, sister, educator, and friend, passed away on December 7, 2024, at the age of 73. She was a lifelong champion of education and inclusion, and her dedication to improving the lives of others was evident in both her professional work and personal relationships.

Born on August 7, 1951, Renee grew up with a deep passion for learning and a commitment to making a difference. She earned her doctorate in education administration and spent much of her life shaping educational systems, especially in the areas of special needs inclusion and teacher training.

In the 1970s and early 1980s, Renee worked for the Allegheny Intermediate Unit in Pittsburgh, where she helped design a groundbreaking curriculum that included children with special needs into the mainstream Pennsylvania public school system. She then moved to the North Allegheny School System in the 1980s, where she served as Assistant Superintendent and was instrumental in teacher training initiatives.

Renee’s career continued to evolve throughout the years. In the 1990s, she transitioned into academia, joining the University of Pittsburgh School of Education as a professor. In 2002, she relocated to Denver, Colorado, where she joined the faculty of CU Denver and continued her work as a teacher trainer. She later became a pioneer in online teacher training, working with Northern Colorado University, Jones University, and Colorado Mountain College, the latter at which she helped develop the seminal courses for its teacher education curriculum.

A loving and caring individual, Renee was deeply devoted to her family. She is survived by her devoted husband of thirty-nine and a half years, Gerald, her son, David, her daughter, Stacy, and her cherished grandchildren, Avery, Jake, Quinn, Liam, and Noah. She is also survived by her sister, Joanne, and brothers, Charles and Howard.

Renee was known for her compassion, joy, and the unwavering love she gave to her family and friends. Despite facing a series of serious medical challenges throughout her adult life, including brave and valiant battles with various health issues, Renee’s resilience and positive spirit never wavered. In the fall of 2024, she finally succumbed to fungal endocarditis, a condition that attacked her artificial mitral valve. But her strength and love of life remained a constant source of inspiration to those who knew her.

Renee was deeply loved, respected, and cherished by all who had the privilege of knowing her. She was a beacon of kindness, always seeing the best in others and bringing out the joy in life. Her legacy of service to others, her pioneering work in education, and the indelible impact she made on everyone she met will continue to inspire for generations.

A celebration of Renee's life will be held in mid-January 2025 in Denver, Colorado. A graveside service will take place in the Vail Valley in late spring or early summer, where a portion of her ashes will be interred in the B'nai Vail Cemetery in Minturn, with another portion spread on Vail Mountain—a place that was dear to her heart.

Renee’s family and friends will forever miss her warmth, wisdom, and boundless love.