Richard AlbertMENDEZ died peacefully, surrounded by family, at his home in Longmont on Saturday, Feb. 4, 2006, after a long fight with cancer. He was 60.

Rich was born in Longmont on April 28, 1945, to Pedro and Juana (Rodriguez) Mendez and lived in Longmont most of his life.

Rich was first married to Jana Wells of Longmont in 1964. They had three children: a daughter Amy born in 1965, a daughter Jennifer born in 1970 and a son Christopher born in 1973. In 1989, he met and married Christie Owens of Longmont, where they made their home.

Rich graduated from Longmont High School in 1963 and later attended the University of Northern Colorado on a Reserve Officers’ Training Corps scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Arts in Education in 1967 and a Master of Science in Botany in 1969.

Rich was a science teacher at many St. Vrain Valley middle and high schools over his 29-year teaching career. After one semester teaching at Longmont High School, he began teaching at Longs Peak Junior High, where he helped found the Peak II laboratory school, an alternative school-within-a-school. Rich later taught at Heritage and Westview middle schools and Niwot High School. In addition to a life of service through teaching, Richard was a founding member of El Comité, a Longmont-based Latino civil rights and community education organization.

Rich was an avid birder, a world traveler, and a member of the Denver Field Ornithologists and Colorado Field Ornithologists. With Christie, he traveled five continents and 18 countries spotting hundreds of bird species while taking in the world’s cultures, foods, art and history.

He was preceded in death by his mother and father; a brother, Henry; and a granddaughter, Jada. He is survived by his wife, Christie; his three children; three grandchildren; and numerous extended family members and friends.

A celebration of Richard’s life and a reception will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 11, at LifeBridge Christian Church, 10345 Ute Highway, Longmont.

In lieu of flowers or gifts, donations to the funds below are deeply appreciated. The Richard A. Mendez Memorial Scholarship Fund of the Hispanic Education Foundation supports Latino high school seniors from Longmont who, like Rich, are the first generation in their families to attend college. Send donations directly to the Hispanic Education Foundation, P.O. Box 2102, Longmont 80502.

The Denver Field Ornithologists Educational Endowment Fund assists individual or organization projects that promote interest in the study of birds — which brought joy to his life — and the preservation of their habitats. Send donations to the DFO treasurer Carolyn Cooley, 941 W. Kettle Ave., Littleton 80120.