W. Scott Moore, a Denver real estate agent and descendant of two historic Colorado families, died May 24, just days after his 70th birthday.
A service is planned at 11 a.m. June 19 at the Leprino Family Atrium in the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.
Moore, who suffered an aneurysm in March, died at Porter Adventist Hospital.
After 17 years as an executive with Ideal Basic Industries and Intercontinental Consolidated Cos., Moore created companies here involved in real estate, oil and gas, mining, retail and banking.
His family business was instrumental in the development of Denver Pavilions on the 16th Street Mall.
Before that development, Moore was involved in a five-year battle against the development of the proposed Centerstone retail project. He sued the city in 1986, charging that the Denver Urban Renewal Authority had illegally declared land partially owned by Moore “a blighted area.” The Urban Renewal Authority had wanted Centerstone to be on that land.
After the case was settled, Moore and others developed Denver Pavilions on the site.
Moore was a trustee of the Museum of Nature & Science and of the Winter Park Recreation Association. He was also on the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District board.
“He was a tough negotiator,” said his son, A. Scott Moore of Boulder.
W. Scott Moore and his companies also had building projects in several other states.
“He was a tough opponent when he had a cause he believed in, but he had a soft heart,” said his friend and lawyer, Gary Davenport of Denver.
They didn’t always agree on everything, Davenport said, adding that Moore “was open to other opinions, but he liked his the best.”
The two shared a consuming interest in American history, and Moore often listened to tapes of history classes while driving.
W. Scott Moore was born in Denver on May 22, 1937, and graduated from The Choate School in Wallingford, Conn. He studied at Radley College in Abingdon, England, and earned a civil engineering degree from Stanford University in California and a business administration degree from the University of Denver.
He was a great-great-grandson of former Colorado Gov. John Evans Sr. and a great-grandson of Colorado pioneer Walter Scott Cheesman.
W. Scott Moore and his first wife, the former Stephanie Allen, were divorced. He is survived by his second wife, Donna Piehler Moore.
In addition to her and his son, he is survived by another son, Sean E. Moore, and three daughters: Pamela Champion, Susan A. Evans and Allyson Ritchko, all of Denver; and 11 grandchildren.
Staff writer Virginia Culver can be reached at 303-954-1223 or vculver@denverpost.com.
