Dr. Charles Troutman Collopy

Charles T. Collopy, MD, 93, of Fort Collins, Colorado, passed away on Tuesday, August 30, 2016. Dr. Collopy, known by his siblings as "Bud" and "Chuck" to his friends, was born January 1, 1923, in Fort Collins to Joseph and Lydia Collopy. Chuck grew up on the family farm -now the site of The Plaza at Foothills Mall– until he moved at age 17 with his parents and six siblings to the city of Fort Collins. He was the grandson of William and Mary Troutman and helped develop their farm south of town, the present site of Target. Chuck was an outstanding student and athlete at Saint Joseph Catholic School; Fort Collins High School, 1941; and Denver University, BA, 1944.
The focal point of Chuck's life until her death in August 2012 was his beloved wife of 64 years, Frances Collopy, whom he always called or referred to as "Franny." They were married in1948, a year after he graduated from CU Medical School.

After interning at the US Marine Hospital in Seattle, Washington, Dr. Collopy practiced family medicine in Miami, AZ, from 1948 to1960. Dr. Collopy completed his orthopedic training in 1962 at the VA hospital in Oakland, CA, and immediately returned to Fort Collins to become one of the founders of the Orthopedic Center of the Rockies.

Although Dr. Collopy retired in 1983, he retained his commitment to medicine and patient health. With Dr. Tom Wera he founded The Children's Clinic of Fort Collins, for which he received The Community Builder of the Year award in 1992. For his work in promoting awareness of multiple sclerosis, Chuck received the Hope Award from the Colorado Neurological Institute in 2003. He was elected a member of the International College of Surgeons, a global organization dedicated to promoting surgical excellence.

Dr. Collopy served on the board of directors for Poudre Valley Hospital. Mr. Gene Fisher and Chuck helped CSU found the interdepartmental Animal Reproduction and Biotechnology Laboratory.

During his retirement Dr. Collopy also wrote three short books: Back to Basics, Medicine in the Mines of Miami, and Correct Me if I'm Wrong.

Three siblings predeceased Chuck: Joseph P. Collopy, World War II casualty, Solomon Islands; Mary Catherine Parsonault, Cheyenne, WY; Frank Collopy, Broomfield, CO. Three siblings survive Chuck: Bernard J. Collopy, MD, Phoenix AZ, William Collopy, Battle Creek, MI, and Elaine Johnson, Eloy, AZ.

Dr. Collopy is survived by his children, Ann Collopy, Cannon Beach, OR; Mary Collopy, and her husband Tom Southworth, Newfane, VT; Charles T. Collopy, Jr., and his wife Pat, Lake Oswego, OR; and Frances Collopy and her husband, Paul DiSalvo, Fort Collins; his grandchildren, Matthew Roberts, Denver, CO; Adam Trister, Washington, DC; Lauren Collopy, San Francisco, CA; and Sean Collopy, Portland, OR; his great-grandchildren, Hannah Trister and Jacob Charles Trister, Washington, DC; and 26 beloved nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Friday, September 23, at 2:00 pm, Saint Joseph Catholic Church, 101 North Howes Street in Fort Collins. Reception to follow at Knights of Columbus Council Hall 1214, 121 North Meldrum St, Fort Collins.

Instead of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Saint Joseph Catholic School, 127 North Howes Street, Fort Collins, CO 80521 ~ Attention: Dr. Chuck Hubbeling, Principal.