Eric W. Degraff

Eric William DeGraff, 12/31/1934 – 04/7/2018
Eric, 83, of Lakewood, CO died peacefully on April 7 after a tragic accident that took place on April 6. He is survived by his loving wife of nearly 23 years, Nancy Gallagher DeGraff, brother Dr. Arthur C. (Chris) DeGraff, MD of West Hartford, CT, daughters Lois (Daniel) Sheehan, and Karen Natalie DeGraff, step-daughter Stephanie Blalock, and granddaughters Lyndsey and Kelsey Sheehan, all of the Metro Denver area.
He was preceeded in death by his parents, Dr. Arthur C. and Mrs. Dorothy Dodd DeGraff, a brother Elliott Dodd DeGraff, and his first wife Mary Felice DeGraff.
Eric was born in New York City, spending his early years in Crestwood, NY, later moving to Connecticut where he attended the Gunnery Prep School. He served in the U.S. Army, stationed in Germany as a Military Policeman. After the Army, he attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, earning a degree in geology, and where he met and married his first wife, Mary Felice Marek. Upon graduation, they moved to Tulsa, OK, where Eric began his career with Sinclair Oil. He cut short his geology career upon learning that he'd have to move to Prudhoe Bay, AK, whereupon he embarked on a career in the financial world after a short time in San Francisco, studying for his newfound career, Eric and his new family moved to Lakewood in 1966, where he has lived ever since. Eric retired from Wells Fargo as a Vice President of Investments at age 72.
With an avid interest in politics, he served both on the Board of Directors and as President from 1983-1987 of the Colorado Union of Taxpayers (CUT). Eric loved spending time with his family, traveling (especially if there was a beautiful sand beach at a 5-star all-inclusive resort), golf (until recently), gardening, and most of all singing, belonging to the Denver MountainAires Barbershop Chorus for 33 years. Eric was a consummate performer, singing anywhere there was a semblance of an audience. On a barge canal cruise in France he was even singing to the livestock along the way and the lockkeepers as well, and anyone else along the way. In his younger years he and his first wife even preformed on stage in little theater. We're certain he's still entertaining everyone in the hereafter.
This wonderful man is dearly loved by his family and friends and is sorely missed!