Former Denver Post editor and Colorado Public Radio host Dan Meyers took on many challenges during a long career in journalism and later public relations.
But he never lost his sense of curiosity, compassion or humor, even as he fought an eight-year battle with colon cancer. Meyers died Monday morning at his Philadelphia home from a brain tumor. He was 65.
Meyers developed a reputation as a prolific and tough city hall reporter at the Philadelphia Inquirer. He moved to Colorado as the Inquirer’s bureau chief and joined The Denver Post in 1995, where he held a variety of editing jobs through 2005, including in business, political and investigative news.
“He was one of the best editors that I worked with at the Denver Post. He asked smart questions and was able to work with our words really well,” said Mark Couch, who replaced Meyers as director of communications at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.
Meyers also had a reputation for fairness. In 1997, he served as jury foreman in the trial of Peter Schmitz, a German painter accused of being behind the wheel of a BMW when it struck another vehicle at 110 mph, killing the driver, Rocky Mountain News columnist Greg Lopez.
The jury concluded there wasn’t enough evidence to prove Schmitz was driving and not Boettcher heir , who committed suicide after the crash.Meyers carried the gruff demeanor of a hardened editor and he would bellow out “Not acceptable!” when unhappy with a reporter’s work, said Michelle Fulcher, who worked with him at both the Post and CPR.
When push came to shove, reporters said he had their backs. He was known for his sense of humor, which would break out in a loud laugh, and for his compassion towards anyone in a tough spot.
One former co-worker at CPR described him as a Tootsie Pop — crusty on the outside, but soft on the inside, Fulcher said.
“Dan was one of those people who loved to be with people. He had a ton of friends,” said Jeff Roberts, who did several projects with Meyers at the Post and also lived near him in Denver.
No matter how stressful things got, Meyers would find time to break away on fun outings with his team, said Roberts who now is director of the Colorado Freedom of Information Coalition. He was well-read and had a wide range of interests, which allowed him to speak to anyone about anything.
In 2005, Meyers left the Post to work as a producer and second host of Colorado Matters on CPR, where he applied both his gravelly voice and investigative skills. Among his innovations was a monthly interview with the governor that continues still.
“He was a strong and reliable editing force. He was generous and a team player. That carried over to his personal life,” Fulcher said.
Meyer’s life took a dramatic turn in 2008 when he sought treatment for a shoulder injury, only to discover he had colon cancer. Meyers underwent treatment and in a matter of weeks was back on the job, covering the Democratic National Convention, Fulcher said.
The experience turned Meyers into a big proponent of colon cancer screening. In November 2009, he took a job as communications director at the University of Colorado School of Medicine in Aurora. He held that job for three years, and then spent two years representing the Anschutz Medical campus, which hosts a top cancer treatment center.
While at CU, Meyers handled a flood of calls from around the globe following the Aurora Theater shooting in 2012. The shooter, James Holmes, was a the Anschutz campus, and many of his victims were treated at University Hospital, which had the nearest emergency room to the theater.
In 2014, Meyers broke out on his own as a freelance writer and public relations consultant specializing in crisis management. He moved to Philadelphia in 2015.
Meyers was born in Chicago on Feb. 11, 1951. He graduated from Brandeis University and earned a master’s degree at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He spoke French, liked to cook, played the guitar, enjoyed skiing and later in life embraced golf, with mixed results but passion. He also taught at the University of Denver and, when he was in his 50s, had a bar mitzvah celebration, a Jewish rite of passage that typically occurs at age 13.
Meyers is survived by his son Jackson Lee Meyers of Denver and his former wife, Sondra Lee of California.
Long-time friend Adam Carmel said Meyers, ever social, wanted to bring his wide circle of friends together one last time.
“He was a gem of a guy,” Carmel said. “I will miss that boy.”
Barry and Gay Curtiss-Lusher are hosting a celebration of Meyer’s life in Denver on Jan. 8 from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Anyone interested in attending should contact Barry at bayrockies@gmail.com. Another gathering for Meyers is also being planned in Philadelphia.
