Forest Heights Lodge Mourns Passing Of Russ Colburn

Russell H. Colburn was born January 28, 1930 and passed away November 2, 2013. Tall, with rusty-colored hair, (for many years) a beard, and often with an imposing German Shepherd by his side, Russ Colburn was larger than life. But the source of his charisma was his confidence in himself and his close connections to others.

Russ devoted his professional life to helping children. He was the executive director of Forest Heights Lodge, a non-profit residential program in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. He led "the Lodge" for 31 years believing that troubled children could grow into adults with healthy self-esteem and the ability to trust and form relationships.

At home, Russ was a pioneer for his generation, supporting his wife, Vee, in her career as a pediatrician and psychotherapist by cheerfully contributing to housework and the rearing of their two daughters, Kristina and Heather. Vee often travelled for work and the girls would look forward to their father's limited (but tasty) cooking repertoire that included homemade spaghetti, steak, and Philly cheese steak sandwiches.

Affectionate and supportive, Russ always made time for his daughters, camping with them in the Great Sand Dunes National Park, taking them on road trips, enjoying walks in the mountains of Colorado or in Europe, or simply tossing the football or softball with them in the evenings.

Born Russell Henry Colburn in Janesville Wisconsin, he was named for his father and was an only child. He lived around the country, growing up through the Great Depression and World War II. He had fond memories of his time in Tarrytown, New York, where ditching school to sneak off to Yankee Stadium made him a lifelong fan.

Moving often was made easier by the fact that Russ was a talented athlete who excelled at football, baseball, and basketball. After high school, Russ joined the U.S. Air Force and served in Korea. Both the camaraderie of military life and witnessing the tragedies faced by families and children in war left lasting impressions that shaped his worldview.

After his return, he completed his bachelor's degree at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and then went on to earn a master's degree at the University of Denver. He was asked by the founders of the Lodge to be their successor in 1963, and a year later the Lodge residents attended Russ' wedding to Vera Fahlberg, who joined him in working at Forest Heights.

At the Lodge, Russ led with integrity, making decisions based on what he thought would best serve the boys living there. He also helped form and served as president of the Colorado Association of Child Care Institutions, which collaborated on standards of care and advocated for legislative issues.

Throughout his life, Russ continued to love competitive sports, playing handball, racquetball, and pitching for the Forest Heights Hammers softball team. He enjoyed the upbeat and unpredictable improvisations of Dixieland jazz, taking photographs on trips, and reading about history.

Although Russ and Vee divorced in 1988, they remained close friends and colleagues, and decided to marry one another again in 1995. At that time they retired together in Seabeck, Washington, in a home overlooking the Hood Canal and the Olympic Mountains. Russ often commented with surprise that he loved the Pacific Northwest as much as he did the Colorado Rockies.

In retirement, Russ delighted in his two grandchildren, Maya and Alisdair, reading books to them and taking them outside to play ball. He frequented the gym until his eighties, and enjoyed swapping stories and sharing laughs with friends, traveling with Vee, and visiting with his mother, Jean, who moved to a town nearby. Russ was a caring son, and he and his mother avidly followed the Yankees, Broncos, Mariners, and Democratic political candidates until her death at the age of 102 in 2011.

The last years of Russ' life were marked by a struggle with Alzheimer's and with melanoma. For those who loved him, it was painful to see his forceful personality and self-reliance fade. As he moved to a memory care center, however, it was of comfort that he was visibly content.
Vee visited Russ nearly every day, and made sure his care needs were being met. Russ enjoyed sitting with her, holding hands, and reminiscing. He was unfailingly polite and good-natured, was well-liked by the staff and other residents, and beamed when family and friends came to visit. His personal warmth never diminished and even the day before he died, his thrill at seeing his wife, daughters, and grandchildren was marked, and his exclamation, "Holy mackerel!" was intelligible.

Russ was passionate about both work and play, and never took anything for granted. He did not live life hoping to please or placate, but was fearless in adhering to principle, advocating for children, and being a staunch friend, loving husband, and a demonstrative father and grandfather.

His family will commemorate Russ' life in Evergreen, Colorado in March of 2014. Those wishing to make contributions in Russ' memory may do so to Forest Heights Lodge.

Forest Heights Lodge is a private, non-profit residential treatment center for behaviorally and emotionally dysregulated boys between five and fourteen years of age.