Robert Yegge, a prominent Denver lawyer and former longtime dean of the University of Denver law school, died of cancer Saturday at a Denver hospice. He was 72.
Plans for a memorial service in January haven’t been completed, according to Jack Hanley, a personal representative for Yegge.
At the time of his death, Yegge was director of the Master of Science in Legal Administration program at the law school, now called the Sturm College of Law.
The program trains people to be administrators of courts, county clerk offices and law firms.
DU Chancellor Robert Coombe said Yegge’s “ability and commitment to the institution made an enormous difference over many years. The force of his personality and the agility of his mind were very positive factors for DU.”
Jose Roberto Juarez Jr., current dean of the law school, said Yegge created the natural- resources law program and was “devoted to DU and the college of law. He was a superb teacher and never slacked off.”
“He was quick with a quip and had a gift of gab,” former DU spokesman Warren Smith said.
Yegge was to receive an award in January from the Hispanic law community for his efforts in recruiting Hispanics to the law school.
Yegge, a third-generation Coloradan and son of Ronald Yegge, a founder of Yegge Hall & Evans law firm (now Hall and Evans), served as DU dean much longer than the average of five years, noted former Colorado Chief Justice William Erickson. He served from 1966 until 1977.
In 1971 Yegge became a consultant to Donald Seawell, then president of The Denver Post, and in 1977 he left DU to return to Hall and Evans.
In 1980 he was arrested on charges of prostitution and solicitation for prostitution on the state Capitol grounds. Yegge was accused of soliciting a male undercover Denver detective. He pleaded no contest, and the city dismissed the prostitution charge.
The allegations ended his plans to start a new job as dean of the University of San Francisco law school. He said at the time that the publicity and allegations against him would impair his ability to be law school dean.
Yegge returned to private practice, and in 1980 he returned to DU.
He loved to entertain at his vacation home, which he called Yegge Peak, near Morrison.
Just before serving the steaks, Yegge’s cook would inject brandy into them with a hypodermic needle, Erickson said.
Robert B. Yegge was born June 17, 1934, in Denver, graduated from East High School and earned his bachelor’s degree at Princeton and his master’s and law degrees at DU.
He served on numerous civic boards and agencies and was particularly interested in the Denver Dumb Friends League and the National Council for Arts and Education. He was devoted to his two dachshunds, Olive and Bruno.
An only child, Yegge leaves no survivors.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at vculver@denverpost.com or 303-954-1223.
