Small-business owner Justin Vicory helped shape the identity of Olde Town, and now an Arvada councilman wants a marker in his memory.
The 35-year-old Vicory, who owned and operated the Wedding Seamstress bridal shop at 7550 Grant Place with his wife, DeeDee, died of skin cancer in September. He left behind four children.
Now Arvada Councilman Bob Fifer to place a 12-foot-tall, solar-powered street clock in Olde Town by May, the month of Vicory’s birthday and Melanoma Awareness Month.
The two became friends in 2007 when the Vicorys opened their business next to a toy store Fifer owned. They served together on the board of Historic Olde Town Arvada.
“He worked so hard marketing and encouraging several of the Olde Town events you see today, like the Festival of Scarecrows and the St. Patricks Day celebration,” Fifer said. “These activities have created a sense of community for folks, and Justin was just instrumental in that.”
Vicory dropped out of his first City Council race in 2013 with the diagnosis of melanoma. that research shows 1 in 5 Americans will develop.
After a stretch of improved health, the final blog post on Sept. 18 details an MRI showing spots on his brain.
“God has been good to me, and I have nothing but active love and prayer that that will continue and my family and friends will all be blessed in any way they really want…” Vicory wrote. ” I always have a glimpse of hope, a ray of light, illuminating my way. What more do I really need?”
He died a few weeks later on Sept. 29. Deedee Vicory said she hopes her husband’s death encourages others to get their skin checked.
“Many people that he told did not think that melanoma was a big deal. He wanted to really raise awareness of how dangerous this cancer is,” Vicory wrote to the Denver Post.
Austin Briggs: 303-954-1729, abriggs@denverpost.com or twitter.com/abriggs
To donate
Visit http://www.gofundme.com/j3mmbw or mail a check payable to “Bob Fifer for Vicory Memorial” to:
Arvada City Offices
Attn: Bob Fifer
8101 Ralston Road, Arvada Co. 80001
