Vernon Purdy

Vernon James Purdy, age 83, died peacefully at his home in Englewood, CO on November 14, 2021. Mr. Purdy was suffering from the effects of advanced Alzheimer’s disease when he passed.

Vern was born June 26, 1938, in Canandaigua, New York. He was raised on the family farm and later attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he received both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree in Management Engineering. He served his country as a Captain in the United States Marine Corps from 1962 to 1964, then entered the corporate world as an advertising manager for Corning Glass Works.

Upon moving to Denver, CO in 1968, Mr. Purdy embarked on a successful career in real estate, working to develop and market the nascent Denver Technological Center, which has since flourished to become the largest and most important business development in the Denver area. He was a lobbyist for and, later, President of the Home Builders Association of Metro Denver, and was Founding Executive Vice President of the Colorado Association of Home Builders. He joined Ridgewood Realty as Vice President in 1973 and led the development of the Columbine subdivisions in Littleton, CO. He started his own company, The Hills Realty, in 1975, and over a nine year period spearheaded the development of many neighborhoods near Cherry Creek Reservoir in the southeast Denver area.

Vern retired from his career in real estate in 1986. He purchased Mountain Creek Ranch near Jefferson, CO, where he enjoyed hunting, cross-country skiing, and many other outdoor activities in his Rocky Mountain retreat. During his retirement years, he also lived on the Big Island of Hawai’i, in Washington State, and in Ajijic, Jalisco, Mexico.

Vern is survived by a sister, Marian McCallister, of Clarence, NY, his two children, Linda Michelle Purdy of Englewood, CO, and William James Purdy, of Denver, CO and their mother, Suzanne Douqué Purdy of Englewood, CO. He is also survived by two grandchildren: Sophia and Logan Purdy, of Denver, CO.

A memorial reception will be held at The Waterford Condominiums, 1900 E. Girard Place, Englewood, CO, on January 7 at 5:30 pm. Relatives and friends are welcome to share their memories of Vern. His ashes will be buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Canandaigua, NY.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a memorial contribution in Vern’s honor at the website for the Alzheimer’s Association: http://http://act.alz.org