Douglas Szycher

1950 – 2019

Louisville

Doug Szycher (February 14, 1950 – September 15, 2019) wore various hats throughout his lifetime: artist, Naval sailor, Neil Young fan, spiritual seeker, retailer, outdoor enthusiast, entrepreneur, husband, handyman, orchid expert, father, Western-style horse showman, landscape designer, divorcé, vegetarian, elite in-line skater, endurance bicyclist, health nut, gardener, certified personal trainer, Harley Davidson motorcyclist, husband again, minister, animal communicator, movie buff, and sound healer.

Although he was born in Bayonne, New Jersey and graduated from Woodbridge High School (New Jersey), he made Colorado home in his twenties. Upon completing his Vietnam-era military service, on a drive from California to New Jersey, he landed in Nederland in the middle of a snow storm. That was it! He fell in love with the mountain air and wild terrain, and spent the remainder of his life in Colorado, eventually settling in Louisville (where he lived for nearly 30 years).

He began his stay studying art at the University of Colorado, but found it challenging to remain inside. He loved hiking Colorado’s trails, canoeing the lakes, and kayaking the rivers. While most of his military service was spent in Japan and the Mediterranean, once he was out of the military, he also traveled to Costa Rica and the Galapagos Islands, as well as rafted down the Grand Canyon on a white water adventure with his son. He not only loved the outdoors, but also enjoyed the creatures he met along the way—including the ringtail cats who stormed his tent in the Grand Canyon, and even the bear in Yellowstone who climbed into his truck to eat his chewing gum.

Although he developed and expressed many talents, Doug’s greatest strengths included his steadfast kind-heartedness and applied creativity. He cultivated traditional yogic, Hindu, Buddhist, and psychic practices, but his true spiritual expression emerged in his own brand of kind, compassionate patience and presence. His ability to be with people, and his genuine interest in the human experience, made him a wonderful conversationalist. He could talk with people he had just met as though they were old friends (because to him, they were).

Additionally, his ability to transform space was magical. At home, he created a backyard park, full of paths lined with flowers and fragrant plants amid the mature trees. For others, he helped to design and recast their indoor and outdoor living environments. The beautiful and creative application of his work demonstrated his commitment to serving others by bettering their lives.

On September 15, 2019, he died in a tragic accident. While riding his motorcycle on the Peak-to-Peak Highway on a sunny afternoon, he was hit by an oncoming vehicle that had unexpectedly bounced into his lane. He died instantly, and his body came to rest next to a stream in Peaceful Valley. May both his body and spirit find peace.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Stanley and Doris Szycher, and survived by his wife, Heidi Szycher, son, Ben Szycher, older brother, Stuart Szycher, and younger sister, Allene Maroney.

The memorial service for Doug will be held on Friday, October 4, 2019, at the Boulder Psychic Institute (1332 Pearl, 2 nd floor, Boulder CO 80303) at 3:30pm. It is open to the public, and will be followed by a pot luck. Dress comfortably.

Memorial gifts are accepted at GoFundMe: “ Honoring the Spirit of Doug Szycher (https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-the-spirit-of-doug-szycher) .” ( https://www.gofundme.com/f/honoring-the-spirit-of-doug-szycher )

Thank you for your love and support! Please share your stories about Doug in the Guest Book below ! ♡