Walter Nowotny Obituary

Walter William Nowotny Jr.

Durango resident Walter William Nowotny, Jr., 75, died from complications of Alzheimer's disease Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2011, in Durango.

Known as "Walt," he was born to Walter William and Margaret Glaub Nowotny on June 7, 1936, in St. Louis.

Mr. Nowotny graduated with a bachelor's degree in agriculture from the University of Missouri in Columbia in 1958.

He went on to serve as a second lieutenant in the Army for more than two years, having been a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps while in college.

He graduated from MU's law school in 1965 and was admitted to the Missouri bar that year.

Mr. Nowotny retired from a nearly 40-year career as a lawyer. At the time of his retirement, he was general counsel of the Doe Run Co., the nation's largest lead mining, milling and smelting operation. His specialty was environmental law, and he was instrumental in drafting Missouri's air, water and strip-mining regulations.

Before his 17-year tenure with Doe Run, Mr. Nowotny was in private law practice for seven years in Jefferson City, Mo., and had been an assistant attorney general for the state of Missouri for 12 years, eight of which were under Attorney General John C. Danforth.

As head of the civil division, at one time he supervised Clarence Thomas, now a U.S. Supreme Court justice, and John Ashcroft, former U.S. Attorney General and senator from Missouri.

On Dec. 18, 1971, he married Mary Roudebush in St. Louis.

In Jamestown, Mo., Mr. Nowotny was elected to the school board and served as president of the Lions Club and treasurer of St. Paul's United Church of Christ.

Mr. and Mrs. Nowotny moved to Durango in 2001 to enjoy life in the mountains, particularly skiing, hiking, biking and gardening.

Mr. Nowotny was an active member of High Noon Rotary and served in a multitude of volunteer capacities, including board member and president of The Ranch Property Owners Association; study buddy with Big Brothers Big Sisters and a side walker with Cadence Therapeutic Riding.

Mr. Nowotny is survived by his wife of 40 years, Mary Roudebush Nowotny, of Durango; daughters Molly Jean Meulenbroek of Rochester, N.H., and Anna Louise Nowotny of St. Louis; sister, Virginia Nowotny Wilcoxen, of St. Louis; two granddaughters; one nephew and one niece; and extended family members.

Cremation has occurred. Service plans are pending.

Memorial contributions may be sent to the Alzheimer's Association, Colorado Chapter Inc., 701 Camino del Rio, No. 321, Durango, CO 81301.