William Roberts Obituary

William "Bill" Gordon Roberts III, 73, longtime Durango resident and husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, died February 8, 2024 in Durango, CO, from a traumatic brain injury. Born June 1, 1950 to parents William, Jr. and Jean Roberts in Pittsburgh, PA, the family, which now included sister Anne, moved to Grafton, OH in 1954, then to Huntington Beach, CA in 1960. Second sister, Barbara, came along in California.

Bill graduated from Marina High School, Huntington Beach in 1968, finishing a semester early, and attended Golden West Community College and California State University (then College), Long Beach, studying economics. Bill's interests however were history and political science. His first jobs were in restaurants, working his way to management and eventually ownership.

It was Bill's restaurant career (and skiing) that led him to move to Durango in 1973 to work for colleague Terry Sweeney at Sweeney's Grubsteak Restaurant. Bill eventually owned his own restaurant, Sweeney's, at Purgatory. After this restaurant was sold, Bill held a variety of jobs, including bartender at the Palace. But he found his true calling when Morley and Richard Ballantine hired him as Editorial Editor for the Durango Herald. At the Herald Bill met the love-of-his-life Cathy, and became devoted "Pop" to daughter, Jordan, and son, Ian.

Bill spoke proudly and often of his children and loved their spouses: Ian is an associate pastor in Colorado Springs, married to Hannah; Jordan is a Product Specialist for EasyCare, Inc., lives in Bayfield and is married to Durango Police Officer Ethan Anderson. Bill adored his two grandchildren from Ian and Hannah, Elisha and Grace, and was looking forward to meeting grandbaby number three in May.

Bill's interests were as varied as his resume: single engine and glider pilot; foodie (except for fish which he couldn't stomach); travel and reading, including as many as five newspapers daily. With the InterAmerican Press Association and the Herald, Bill travelled throughout North and South America, including Cuba, Chile and Argentina, where he became friends with Ernesto Kaiselburd. Further travel took him to the southernmost point of South America to visit life-long friend, Robert Runyard.

While never liking team sports, Bill enjoyed swimming, and excelled at skiing.

Bill and Cathy spent the last five years living between Durango and Highlands Ranch, CO, until Cathy retired in 2023 when they once again lived full-time in the town Bill loved so deeply.

While quiet by nature, Bill engaged all he met, including Colorado's governors, senators and congressional members. He will be remembered for many things, including his dry humor and amazing ability to remember little known facts and unusual stories. His spirit continues on as he was a tissue donor. Bill is already sorely missed by his family, friends, and community.

A celebration of Bill's life will take place on Friday, February 16 at 3pm at First Presbyterian Church of Durango, 1159 E. 3rd Ave. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Bill's memory be made to Mercy Hospital Foundation, 1010 Three Springs Blvd. Suite 248, Durango, CO 81303 or online at MHD-Donate - Catholic Health Initiatives Colorado Foundation (thankyou4caring.org); First Presbyterian Church of Durango online at https://www.fpcdurango.org/give/ or the Durango Education Foundation for a journalism scholarship https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/efe616dc-f651-4943-91f0-87e6016fca74

Please indicate your donation is in memory of Bill Roberts.

The family also encourages you to complete a Medical Durable Power of Attorney if you haven't yet done so and to make your own wishes known to your loved ones.