Robert Douglas Meyers
November 3, 1947—October 11, 2023
Bob was a New Jersey boy who visited Boulder, Colorado in 1970 and never left. He was born in Jersey City, New Jersey on November 3, 1947, the only child of Gladys Wirth Meyers and Charles Robert Meyers. He grew up and attended schools in North Bergen, New Jersey. Bob graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry from St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York in 1969.
Following the suggestion of a classmate who was working in Boulder, Bob headed west after graduation. After crossing the Mississippi River for the first time, he fell in love with the West’s open skies and mountains and settled in Boulder.
In 1970 he met Patricia Ann Novak at a social function given by the University Lutheran Chapel and fell in love again. Pat and Bob married at the chapel on May 27, 1972.
Bob began work in Boulder driving a concrete truck for Flatiron Premix. He took real estate classes, worked as a licensed Realtor, and then became an appraiser, working for Adams County, Majestic Savings and Loan, and as an independent appraiser. His real love was always science, and he returned to that field in the 1980s when he started teaching at the University of Colorado’s Science Discovery Program. Bob subsequently became a laboratory coordinator for CU’s Chemistry Department. Bob retired from CU in 2007.
Bob and Pat have two daughters, Erin and Catherine. He is survived by his wife and daughters and son-in-law, Tunay Tunca, his granddaughters Ada and Ela Tunca, sister-in-law Rebecca Kast, brother-in-law Bill Kast, brother-in-law Steve Novak, sister-in-law Julie Carigma, and numerous nieces and nephews.
Bob and Pat spent their leisure hours camping, hiking, and bicycling. Bob took meticulous care of his automobiles and bicycles and loved to fix anything mechanical. The family remembers how he managed to drive their car from Nebraska to New Jersey after the starter motor had failed!
Bob spent the last year of his life at The Peaks Memory Care in Lafayette, where he was cared for by their wonderful staff of caregivers, and the caregivers of Agape Hospice.
Bob will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him. A celebration of his life will be held next summer. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Bob and Pat Meyers Scholarship Fund, University of Colorado Boulder in memory of Bob Meyers. Gifts can be made online at: Bob & Pat Meyers Educational Fund. Or checks can be written to the ‘Bob and Pat Meyers Scholarship at CU Foundation’ and mailed to CU Foundation, PO Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217.
Bob was a dear friend of over 50 years. I will miss him and the times we met for lunch especially when we met at Naropa.
It is a joy to read his story to remember his many interests: biking, outdoor camping, mechanics and science.
He may have found his true love in Colorado, but returning to the Jersey shore annually was a tradition.
Bob was a wonderful friend. My fondest memory of him was the trip my wife, Carol, and I took with Bob and Pat to South Dakota to ride our bikes on the Mickelson trail from the southwest corner of the state to the northwest corner. Good times!