Richard Alan Cervanyk

When Richard Alan Cervanyk was born to Lee and Lorraine Cervanyk on Sunday, June 25, 1967, a journey of 59 years began that was highlighted with love, joy, brilliance, inquisitiveness and a persistence to accomplish whatever Richard decided to pursue.

Richard was the 5th and final child in a family that already consisted of Lora, John, Ed and Tomie. When Lora came home from Girl Scout camp that Sunday morning and found a blue towel hanging on the porch, she ran to her room and cried because she so wanted a little sister. But Richard charmed his way into his sister’s heart, becoming a close friend whom she loved dearly for the rest of his life.

A favorite story about Richard involved his desire to watch Sesame Street one morning. Mom showed Richard the clock above the TV, explaining it wasn’t time for Sesame Street to start. A short time later, Richard took Mom’s hand and showed her the clock – it was time for Sesame Street to start! Mom realized that Richard had climbed on the TV so he could reach the clock and move the hands, so it was, in fact, time for Sesame Street start!

Richard wanted a dog and after much pleading, Mom and Dad agreed. Richard brought home a puppy from a litter his friends had. The BIG German Short-Haired Pointer was named Trooper, and Ralph and Tiffy, two smaller dogs, later joined the family.

As Richard was growing up, he kept up with the activities of his family, being involved at All Saints Catholic Church as an Altar Boy, joining the swimming and diving teams at Loretto Heights and spending hours in Walsenburg, Colorado, with his grandparents, Sophia and John Nigro, and Jean and Andrew Cervanyk. Richard often talked in later years about how much he enjoyed golfing with Grandpa John and cooking with Grandma Sophia.

Richard went to Denver Public Schools – Doull Elementary, Kunsmiller Junior High and Lincoln High Schools where he always academically did very well. He later joined his older brothers working at Domino’s Pizza where he met the love of his life, Sonya Austin.

Richard attended Colorado State University in Ft. Collins, graduating with a degree in Accounting. Richard worked as a Certified Public Accountant for many companies including Deloitte & Touche and Veco Drilling.

In August of 1989, Richard married Sonya, who is known as Sunny, a name that truly captured the outlook she brought to life with Richard. The couple proudly bought their Littleton home together, surprising Mom and Dad that they did not need parental help. Their kittens, Mitten and Muffin, provided love and enjoyment for many years.

Over the years, Richard and Sunny enjoyed attending plays and concerts, learning to cook interesting dishes, traveling to Disney Parks and various other locations and taking cruises. A favorite trip in 1996 to Disneyworld that Richard and Sunny took included Mom and Dad, and Lora and her son, Creighton. Many memories were made that October, which became very special after Dad suddenly passed away six short weeks later on November 25, while on an RTD bus on his way to jury duty. Life was never the same, but Richard and Sunny continued traveling, cooking and spending time with family, especially his Mom.

In 2013, Richard and Sunny bought 5 acres in Park County and built their dream home known as “The Homestead.” For many years they spent weekends working together at their home and enjoying the rural pace of life. In 2024, they sold their Littleton home and moved to Como, Colorado full-time.

Mother’s Day on May 10, 2026, was special as Richard and Sunny prepared Polenta, a favorite for his Mom, and many family members including Creighton and Clarissa Thomas and their daughter, Amidei, were present.

In late May of 2026, Richard developed a cough that turned into Bronchitis. On June 1 when breathing became difficult, Sunny took Richard to Swedish Hospital where he was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and passed away on June 18, surrounded by family and friends.

Richard is survived by his wife, Sunny, his mother, Lorraine, his siblings Lora Thomas (Tony Fabian), John and Ed, his nephews Creighton Thomas (Clarissa), Ben Haynes (Roxie), Cory Cervanyk and Stephen Mahrholz (Katherine), his nieces Amanda Roper (Gil) and Courtney Correa (Luis), great-niece, Amidei Thomas, aunts and uncles and several cousins, his mother-in-law Chris Austin, and brother-in-law Robert Austin. Waiting for Richard in Heaven were his Dad, Lee, his brother Tomie, his father-in-law Paul Austin and his brother-in-law Paul Austin, and his grandparents along with other family members and friends.