Eve Mackintosh, who founded the Mackintosh Academy in Denver, died unexpectedly Nov. 27 from the effects of a stroke. She was 76.
A service is planned at 2 p.m. Sunday at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church, 1980 Dahlia St.
Mackintosh, a native of Greenville, Miss., was the person who spearheaded the creation of and helped make a tapestry about historic Colorado women that hangs in the State Capitol.
She was also a teacher in public and Catholic schools and founded the Center for Environmental Learning, now called the Metropolitan Science Center.
Mackintosh Academy for Gifted Children, first located in northeast Denver (at the former Colorado Woman’s College campus), later moved to Littleton.
Opened in 1977, the school is believed to be the state’s first private school for gifted and talented children. Mackintosh was the director until 1992.
The 9-foot-by-12-foot tapestry at the Capitol is called Women’s Gold and depicts 18 women who made history in Colorado, including Mother Elizabeth Seton, Helen Bonfils and Antonia Brico.
Women and men from throughout the state added stitches to the tapestry during the 18 months it took to complete. The wall hanging was transported through the state so people could add their stitches, said Edna Pelzmann, manager of visitors’ service at the Capitol.
The tapestry, which shows a meandering stream to depict where gold was first discovered in Colorado, was dedicated in 1977, just a year after the state’s bicentennial. Eve Mackintosh was a volunteer guide at the Capitol.
She had begun a Tapestry for Peace, a 300-foot-long work that includes stitches by women throughout the country.
Mackintosh was full of ideas and knew how to raise money and get people involved.
“Her mind went as fast as she drove her car,” said her son, Todd Mackintosh of Denver. “She was always going 110 in a 55 mph zone,” he said, laughing.
“She was a charming, tenacious woman, and if someone told her ‘no’ (on a project), I really think in her mind they were saying they would think about it,” he said.
“Her motto was, ‘The impossible just takes a little bit longer.”‘
Eve Epperson was born Nov. 7, 1929, and graduated from Mississippi University for Women. She came to Denver with her first husband, Bill Estes, who was transferred there for his job. They had married in 1963.
They divorced, and she married William Mackintosh. They later divorced.
In addition to her son Todd and ex-husbands, Mackintosh is survived by three other sons: Trip Mackintosh and Andrew Mackintosh, both of Denver, and Gil Estes of Missouri; a daughter, Patsy Vargo Joiner of Great Falls, Mont.; and eight grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at vculver@denverpost.com or at 303-820-1223.
