03-06-2017, 10:31 PM
Rol Hoverstock, beloved minister and cyclist, dies in Boulder at 73
Holstock offered counsel to thousands, including family of JonBenét Ramsey
By Alex Burness
Staff Writer
Posted: 10/02/2015 08:08:12 PM MDT | Updated: about a year ago
Father Rol Hoverstock, longtime minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, conducting the Blessing of the Animals to honor St Francis in 2003. He died Thursday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff photographer)
Father Rol Hoverstock, longtime minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Boulder, and former owner of the iconic University Hill bike shop The Spoke, died late Thursday night. He was 73.
According to friends, Hoverstock had battled illness for months, and was admitted to hospice earlier this week. He died with his wife, Bea, and children, Molly and Joe, beside him.
"This is extremely sad news for everyone who knew and loved Rol," said Susan Springer, St. John's Rector, in a statement to the congregation. "He was friend, confidante, priest, mentor and companion on the way."
In his church capacity, clergy members say, Hoverstock was an effective, fair-minded leader.
"He got things done without invoking people's dislike or anger or anything like that," said Richard Collins, St. John's member and University of Colorado law professor.
Hoverstock was not an iconoclast — his views were consistent with the doctrine of the church, friends say — but he was a calm, reassuring voice to all types of people seeking his wisdom.
"I think he was so respected because he was so respecting to other people," friend Ginny Pine said. "Very strong in his faith, but very open to everybody."
Among those who sought his counsel were John and Patsy Ramsey, parents of JonBenét.
Not long after JonBenét's body was found inside the Ramsey's 15th Street home Dec. 26, 1996, Hoverstock led family and friends who were there in the Lord's Prayer.
"That was something that was a challenge, certainly, to his early years at St. John's," university classmate and lifelong friend David Cass said. "The press attention was a strain."
Hoverstock never spoke to the media about the case.
Prior to becoming a leader at St. John's in the mid-90s, he was a kid living outside Buffalo, N.Y., dreaming of going west for college. So, he enrolled at the University of Colorado.
"I think he just liked the idea of getting away from New York, and he loved it here," Cass said.
After college, he served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program in Florida. It was one of only two stints outside Colorado in his adult life; the other was to study in a South Dakota ministry.
One day in Florida, Cass was ushering a wedding, and he invited Hoverstock. There, Hoverstock met Bea, and the two remained together until his death.
In the late 70s and early 80s, Hoverstock co-owned The Spoke bicycle shop inside the University Hill space now occupied by Buchanan's coffeeshop.
Doug Emerson, who now owns University Bicycles on Pearl St., said Hoverstock would lead his employees on bike rides after close. The store, he said, was ahead of its time.
"This was back when most of the country was used to Schwinn stores," Emerson said. "The Spoke was a real pro's shop — Italian bicycles, British bicycles. He had the kind of stuff you didn't find in the U.S."
In whatever he did, loved ones say, he carried a strong belief in humanity, and always seemed to know the right thing to say, in any situation.
"He was an awesome man," friend Jim Bliley said. "He was loving, caring, and, in his own way, charismatic.
"He attracted people because of his love and humility as a person. He could always find the soft spot."
No memorial service has been announced yet, but St. John's has said it will update the community if and when a public one is scheduled.
Holstock offered counsel to thousands, including family of JonBenét Ramsey
By Alex Burness
Staff Writer
Posted: 10/02/2015 08:08:12 PM MDT | Updated: about a year ago
Father Rol Hoverstock, longtime minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in Boulder, conducting the Blessing of the Animals to honor St Francis in 2003. He died Thursday. (Cliff Grassmick / Staff photographer)
Father Rol Hoverstock, longtime minister at St. John's Episcopal Church in downtown Boulder, and former owner of the iconic University Hill bike shop The Spoke, died late Thursday night. He was 73.
According to friends, Hoverstock had battled illness for months, and was admitted to hospice earlier this week. He died with his wife, Bea, and children, Molly and Joe, beside him.
"This is extremely sad news for everyone who knew and loved Rol," said Susan Springer, St. John's Rector, in a statement to the congregation. "He was friend, confidante, priest, mentor and companion on the way."
In his church capacity, clergy members say, Hoverstock was an effective, fair-minded leader.
"He got things done without invoking people's dislike or anger or anything like that," said Richard Collins, St. John's member and University of Colorado law professor.
Hoverstock was not an iconoclast — his views were consistent with the doctrine of the church, friends say — but he was a calm, reassuring voice to all types of people seeking his wisdom.
"I think he was so respected because he was so respecting to other people," friend Ginny Pine said. "Very strong in his faith, but very open to everybody."
Among those who sought his counsel were John and Patsy Ramsey, parents of JonBenét.
Not long after JonBenét's body was found inside the Ramsey's 15th Street home Dec. 26, 1996, Hoverstock led family and friends who were there in the Lord's Prayer.
"That was something that was a challenge, certainly, to his early years at St. John's," university classmate and lifelong friend David Cass said. "The press attention was a strain."
Hoverstock never spoke to the media about the case.
Prior to becoming a leader at St. John's in the mid-90s, he was a kid living outside Buffalo, N.Y., dreaming of going west for college. So, he enrolled at the University of Colorado.
"I think he just liked the idea of getting away from New York, and he loved it here," Cass said.
After college, he served in the AmeriCorps VISTA program in Florida. It was one of only two stints outside Colorado in his adult life; the other was to study in a South Dakota ministry.
One day in Florida, Cass was ushering a wedding, and he invited Hoverstock. There, Hoverstock met Bea, and the two remained together until his death.
In the late 70s and early 80s, Hoverstock co-owned The Spoke bicycle shop inside the University Hill space now occupied by Buchanan's coffeeshop.
Doug Emerson, who now owns University Bicycles on Pearl St., said Hoverstock would lead his employees on bike rides after close. The store, he said, was ahead of its time.
"This was back when most of the country was used to Schwinn stores," Emerson said. "The Spoke was a real pro's shop — Italian bicycles, British bicycles. He had the kind of stuff you didn't find in the U.S."
In whatever he did, loved ones say, he carried a strong belief in humanity, and always seemed to know the right thing to say, in any situation.
"He was an awesome man," friend Jim Bliley said. "He was loving, caring, and, in his own way, charismatic.
"He attracted people because of his love and humility as a person. He could always find the soft spot."
No memorial service has been announced yet, but St. John's has said it will update the community if and when a public one is scheduled.