Leroy Andrew Twarogowski, of Denver, Colorado, passed away peacefully on April 4th, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated art educator and a life defined by family, art, and a lifelong commitment to never take anything too seriously.

Born on September 12, 1937, in Chicago, Illinois, Leroy was the son of Thomas (“Timbo”) E. Twarogowski and Eleanore H. (Kokoszka) Twarogowski, both of whom preceded him in death. He was raised in Chicago, where he ostensibly enjoyed innumerable pierogi.

Initially a student at the Art Institute of Chicago, he continued his studies at the University of Kansas, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts in silversmithing.

He began his teaching career at Fort Hays State University in Hays, Kansas, and later became a Professor of Fine Arts at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. At CSU, he taught drawing for 43 years and influenced generations of students through his mentorship, awkward jokes, and relentless command to “just put some marks on the paper!”

Known by many names—Dad, Pop, LaDadRoye, Uncle Lee, Uncle Fuzzy (either a reference to his beard or a perm he got once), Grandpa Leroy, and Grandpa WeeWoy— and countless misspellings of “Twarogowski,” he was a devoted father and grandfather whose greatest masterpiece was his family.

He is survived by his wife, Marie Cote Twarogowski, with whom he had a son, Mikhail (Ruth). He was previously married to Beverly Lloyd (née Penka), with whom he shared four sons: Michael (Anne Laurie), Mark (Aimee), Mathew (Jamie), and Martin (Leslie).

He was a proud grandfather to Oliver, Fielding (Sam) Max, Maia, Rowan, Dashiell, Edie, and Sasha, and a cherished great-grandfather to Poppy and Birdie, to each of whom he brought great joy and a character-developing amount of embarrassment.

Leroy was preceded in death by his beloved siblings Sandra (“Sandy”) Hoyne, Robert (“Bob”) Twarogowski, and Thomas E. Twarogowski III. He is survived by his sister Linda Wren (Robert), along with his children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, extended family, and generations of grateful drawing students and friends.

Leroy believed that art was everywhere, and that anyone could be an artist. He believed that every paper with lines on it was a unique and priceless gift.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Leroy’s memory to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, a leading organization dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease and advancing treatments. Or you can draw something, and in doing so bring more beauty to the world.

A celebration of life and other cosmic phenomena will be held in Denver on June 13th, 2026, from 2-6 PM. Details to follow.

Please share your memories of Leroy and condolences with his family by signing the guest book below.