Les Denning

Pilot, writer, teacher, chess player, Christmas football game and father, Les Denning, of Estes Park, Colo., died of prostate cancer Tuesday, May 15.

Born Dec. 7, 1938, Mr. Denning graduated from St. Mark's academy in Dallas where he lettered in track and field.

In 1958, he married the former Virginia Boyce Denning in Estes Park. They returned to Dallas where he attended North Texas State University earning a bachelor of arts degree and later an master of arts degree in logic. Mr. Denning taught logic and government at Ursuline Academy in Dallas.

While teaching, Mr. Denning continued a family tradition of vacationing in Estes Park.

In 1970, he moved to Colorado.

An avid rock climber, Mr. Denning climbed Longs Peak several times, including Kieners route. Mr. Denning's love of heights led him to parachute jumping where he completed more than 50 successful solo jumps.

He eventually moved from jumping out of airplanes to flying them. He became a certified flight instructor with both multi-engine and instrument ratings, logging more than more than 5,000 flight hours.

Services will be held Saturday, May 26, 2007, at 3 p.m. at the Great Mountain Zen Center, 1110 Sparta Dr., in Lafayette. Reception to follow from 6-8 p.m. at 5314 Desert Mountain Ct., in Boulder, Colo. The body will be cremated. Cremation services provided by Avalon Mortuary.

Mr. Denning is survived by daughter Christine, Longmont (sons Jordan, Boulder, Byron, Spokane) son, Mark, Sydney, Australia (wife Lisa); son, Thomas, Superior (wife Holly, sons Tyler and Colton); son, David, Estes Park; daughter Bridget, Arvada, (husband, Dave), daughter Virginia, Memphis, son Michael, Raleigh (wife Jill, sons Sullivan, Andrew); son, Robert, Chicago, (daughter Madeline), daughter, Rachel, Eden Prairie, (husband Tim, son Austin, daughters Emma, Ella), daughter Shannon, Raleigh (daughter Eryn), son Brian, Boulder; son, Daniel Melbourne; former wife Eva Denning, Czech Republic; and son, Martin, Estes Park.