Memorial services were held last Tuesday, at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Lakewood, for Timber Dick who was the director of marketing and recruitment for the School of Engineering and Computer Science.

Dick, 52, died on Thursday evening, April 10, at the University of Colorado Hospital after suffering from severe burns in his lungs and over 60 percent of his body from a car accident which took place a month ago on March 29.

Dick was driving on Interstate 70 near Floyd Hill when the front wheel of his Dodge Caravan locked and the vehicle hit a guardrail and tumbled down at 240-foot slope.

His minivan burst into flames.

According to the Rocky Mountain News article, Scott Boylan and Andrew Rosenberg as well as other motorists who stopped, were credited with helping to douse the flames and render aid to Dick, who pulled himself from the flaming wreckage.

“He was a really gifted inventor and I had him come to my class and speak about his invention,” said Daniel Armentrout, fellow co-worker and associate chair of mechanical and materials engineering. “He was a very good and kind man, always helpful to students.”

Dick was slated to receive an award from NASA at a ceremony later this month in New York for his design of a high-efficiency engine.

According to the Denver Post, Dick was an inventor whose company, Tendix Development, won a transportation-design award earlier this year in a contest sponsored by a NASA publication.

The space agency praised him for an engine he designed.

“Timber was both technically savvy, as well as great communicator with high school students. This unique combination of skills is not easily found,” said Rahmat A. Shoureshi, dean of the School of Engineering & Computer Science.

“Timber was masterful in making students realize their potential and how our school and DU are uniquely able to bring them to their full potentials.

“His positive personality and attitude, his passion for his job, his friendship with students, faculty and staff are truly missed. I still cannot believe that he is gone.”

Dick unsuccessfully ran for Denver City Council in 2003 and his mother, Nancy, served from 1979 to 1986 as the Colorado’s first female lieutenant governor.

In addition to his wife Annette Lantos Tillemann-Dick, Dick is survived by 11 children.

According to DU Today, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Enrollment Todd Rinehart says the university community will greatly miss Dick’s presence.

DU Today also quoted Rinehart saying that usually five days a week, multiple times per day, Dick would spend time in the Office of Admissions meeting with prospective students who were interested in computer science and engineering.

Although that was just a part of his job, Dick went above and beyond.

Donations are being accepted for the Timber Dick Catastrophe Fund at any Wells Fargo Bank in the Denver area.

The School of Engineering and Computer Science also is accepting donations through executive assistant Donna Kolosky in Room 228, Boettcher East.

For questions about donating, call Chase Squires at 303-871-2660.