Dr. Richard L. Codd

Richard Lee Codd, known by most as Doctor Codd, as Dick by his extended family and friends, as Dad by his children and affectionately known as Poppy by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, passed away on December 1, 2023, after a long and honorable life. Dick was born in Colfax, Washington on March 5, 1928. The fourth of six boys, he spent his early years working on the family wheat farm and became a “local legend” in the Palouse region playing basketball. He went to Gonzaga University on a basketball scholarship where he played point guard for the Gonzaga Bulldogs, a basketball program he followed with dedication for the rest of his life. After completing his pre-med studies at Gonzaga, he received his medical degree from Creighton University. It is there that he literally bumped into a young nurse named Donna Pudwill who had to fish him out of a strategically located laundry cart. He and Donna eventually married on September 30, 1952, and they were together until her death on April 11, 2012. Dick completed his internship at St. Anthony’s Hospital in Denver and then reported to Long Beach, California, to complete his obligation to the U.S. Navy. He served as Lieutenant (MC) on the USS Norton Sound from 1954-1956. In 1956, he and Donna chose Fort Collins to call their new home and begin his medical practice alongside 11 respected colleagues serving the community at that time. He was a family practice physician for 40 years until his retirement in 1995. During those years he was fully dedicated to his practice and to the care of his patients. He served as Chief of Staff for Poudre Valley Hospital but humbly claimed he was not voted in, just assigned due to a lack of willing candidates who had not already served their time. He loved being a doctor in Ft. Collins and continued to share his medical knowledge even throughout his most recent hospital stays. He often caught his care team off guard while self-diagnosing his condition and recommending his treatment plan in medical terms that only those experienced in the field could understand. Although it is said that doctors make the worst patients, he rarely missed the chance to credit a caregiver with “I think you have done this before” or a simple “Good Job” compliment. Dick and Donna raised a family of six children: Mike, Tim, Jeff, Cynthia, Tom, and an adopted daughter, Mary Alice. They grew up in St. Joseph Catholic Parish and attended St. Joseph Catholic School. At one time, Dick used his basketball knowledge to coach St. Joseph’s and various Fort Collins Parks and Recreation boy basketball teams. Then his competitive spirit and love of sports turned to golf. He spent many happy hours on the golf course fostering friendships, fine tuning his short game and mastering the bunkers. With his low handicap and high integrity, he was the guy to have in your foursome in any scramble format tournament on a golf course or in life. Dick had a passion for small birds and gardening. He loved grooming the landscape of his home and those of others. As the master gardener of the family, he was a wealth of information. He became quite proficient at identifying and caring for native plants, including those in the mountains on his property in Summit County. Any available open space or empty flowerpot was soon planted with either of his two favorites, Autumn Joy Sedum or Karl Foerster Grass. “They were low maintenance and beautiful all year long”. Dick is predeceased by his five brothers, Alan, Russell, John, Dan and Paul. He is also predeceased by his wife Donna Codd (2012), his son Tim (2015), daughter Mary Alice (2009) and grandson Jacob Kientz (2020). He is survived by his children, Mike (Nancee) of Fort Collins, Jane (daughter-in-law) of RSM, CA., Jeff (Gloria) of Sugarland, Texas, Cynthia Wooldridge (Dave) of Fort Collins, Tom (Tanya) of Carlsbad, CA., 19 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren. A special thanks to all of the medical professionals that cared for him, especially Kathy and Ivan of Home Instead and Crissy of Pathways. In his last years, as family and friends said goodbye after visits, he would often say, “I love you. When will I see you again?” or “stop by anytime, I will be here.” We love you too, Dad, Poppy, Dick, Dr. Codd. We will miss you; we are here for you as you were always there for us, and we look forward to seeing you again. Recitation of the Rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2024. Dick’s Eulogy and Memorial Mass will be held at 9:00 a.m., Wednesday, March 13, 2024 at St Joseph Catholic Church. Celebration of Life reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Fort Collins. Interment will be held privately for family. Donations in Dick’s name may be made to St. Joseph School, through Goes Funeral Care (3665 Canal Drive, Suite E, Fort Collins, CO 80524)