Gregory Gerard Sauber

Gregory Gerard Sauber, 62, passed away peacefully while surrounded by family and friends on Aug. 1, 2022 at Denver Health Hospital.

Greg was born in Spokane, Washington, on July 22, 1960, the only son of Greg and Helen Sauber. He was the loving brother of sisters Patricia Tracy and Mary Jo Sauber.

Forever proud of his Montana heritage, Greg grew up in Libby, Montana. Greg graduated from Libby High School in 1978. A member of the track and skiing clubs in high school, Greg was a very popular member of his high school class and developed friendships that would last his entire life.

His friends were also a part of Greg’s family. His years in high school established Greg’s ability to touch the lives of so many - a trait that would follow him every step of his eventful life. He was often referred as the “glue” that kept his Libby friends together.

In the fall of 1978 Greg attended the University of Montana in Missoula, Montana. The next four years were some of the most cherished years of Greg’s life, meeting more lifelong friends and expanding his network. A favorite saying of Greg’s was, “you can never have too many friends.” During his summers in college Greg worked as a logger, car mechanic and broker and tour guide for his friends who attended “Logger Days” in Libby.

It was always a trademark of Greg that he was going to pay his own way in life and never wanted to be handed anything. These summers further cemented his work ethic and desire to make his parents proud of their son.

Greg graduated a proud Grizzly in 1982 with a BS in Business Finance. This degree would serve him well in his future business life. So many of his friends and business associates saw Greg as smart, witty, determined, decisive and tenacious.

The word “no” was never in Greg’s vocabulary. No just meant Greg was going to find another way to get it done.

In 1985, Greg ventured down to Denver, Colorado (like many of his Montana classmates) to begin his business career. Greg achieved success with Xerox Business Services (XBS), rising to the National Account Manager for Blue Cross and Blue Shield.

Greg once again displayed his determination to rise to the top and show everyone that the kid from Libby was something special. During those corporate work years Greg also gave a lot to his community. He was a member of the Denver Chamber of Commerce Presidents Club recruiting new members and making more friends. You get the theme; Greg was always networking and adding friends and associates to his family.

One of Greg’s greatest achievements in life was his association with the Denver Active 20/30 Club (now Denver Children’s Foundation). As a founding member in 1987 and holding every position in the club, Greg poured his heart and soul into this organization.

Since 1987, the organization has raised over $14 million for the children of the Denver community. Two of the Foundation’s events, the Denver Barn Dance and the Denver Polo Classic, are nationally known and respected.

Greg had strong Catholic faith and was a member of the St. Vincent de Paul Church all his adult Denver life.

In the mid 1990s Greg took a couple of financial leaps during a tough economy – moves that further established his legacy. The first was the purchase of his sanctuary, Moose Lodge, on the shores of Flathead Lake near Dayton, Montana.

It is a dream of many in Western Montana to have a house on Flathead Lake and Greg made it happen. The Moose Lodge was his happy place and has been a vacation retreat for his friends and family for the past 25-plus years.

It should be noted that if you were a friend of Greg’s and you were going to Moose Lodge you had better be prepared for some chores. You had to earn your keep at the Moose Lodge!

The second event that surely established Greg in Denver was the purchase of the Washington Park Grille and its associated businesses. The Grille is a landmark in Denver on South Gaylord Street and is a cornerstone of the Gaylord Street development. Greg and his business partner, Jeff Estey, made sure everyone who ever worked at the Grille and their related businesses were family as well.

Greg loved all watersports, motorcycling, snow and Heli skiing (especially apres-skiing), working on cars and telling stories. If you knew Greg, you know he could spin a yarn. No matter how many times you may have heard a rendition of a story, he always made you laugh!

During Greg’s four weeks in the hospital, you could see how he touched so many lives based on the number of people who visited him, sent cards and letters, prayed for his recovery, or wrote messages to him on his CaringBridge site caringbridge.org – Greg Sauber.

Greg was preceded in death by his parents Greg and Helen and survived by his sisters Patricia (Los Angeles, California) and Mary Jo (Post Falls, Idaho), in addition to so, so many people who are lucky to have been friends with Greg. He leaves a hole in the heart of anyone who ever had the pleasure to know this fine and decent man.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Parish and School (https://saintvincents.org) as well as the Denver Children’s Foundation (https://www.denverchildrensfoundation.org)

Funeral Services will be held for Greg at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022, at St. Vincent de Paul Church, located at 2375 E Arizona Ave, Denver, CO 80210.