Eric Benjamin Spanier

Eric Benjamin “Ben” Spanier found his peace and salvation on December 19, 2014. Ben was born in Saint Cloud, Minnesota on July 12, 1976 to Eric and Margaret Spanier. He moved with the family to Fort Collins in January, 1978. Ben grew up in northeast Fort Collins together with his older sister and brother. He attended Tavelli Elementary School and Lincoln Junior High School. For high school he travelled to Saint John’s Preparatory School in Collegeville, Minnesota, where his father had also attended. Ben started college at Arizona State University. He graduated from Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2000 with a Bachelor’s of Science in Marketing where he developed a keen interest in marketing and undertook several internships. He followed his marketing curiosity by earning a Master’s of Business in Communications from the University of St. Thomas - Opus College of Business in Minneapolis in 2005. Ben sought to develop his marketing and other professional interests at various positions in Chicago, Phoenix, Denver, Minneapolis and Loveland. He had worked for the past year on the weekend shift at Constant Contact in Loveland as a Customer Engagement Specialist. More than anything, Ben’s personality and sense of self in the world defined his life and interactions with others. With no unkindness in his being, Ben made a strong impression on those who knew him. While he himself was veiled under a complex personality, he sought out like-minded people everywhere he went and reciprocated when people responded to his kindness. Ben had a great sense of humor that was usually spot on for his audience and which he generously shared with others. He developed lifelong friends and impacted the lives of many more. Ben was curious and intelligent with keen insights into the topics and trends to which he devoted countless hours studying – often at his beloved Starbucks. He had varied interests which defied easy categorization. He enjoyed electronic gadgets of all sorts and was the most technically savvy member of the family. He enjoyed light jazz and was seldom one to shy away from the dance floor. He loved nice cars and would visit car dealerships simply for the enjoyment of looking at the latest models. Ben had excellent taste in clothes, design, art and even cuisine. He valued physical fitness and dedicated much time to the erstwhile local gym while following religiously a strict high protein diet. He was also a frequent movie goer – enjoying a wide range of genres. Ben loved exploring and often drove to new and unknown places simply to get away. He developed a love for nature, mountains, and in particular the desert. He doted on his young nieces and nephews – two and four- legged – for them and the world he was a big, loveable, huggable bear. We will forever miss his hugs. Ben is survived by his loving family: parents, Eric and Margaret Spanier currently of Loveland; sister, Sarah Golding and brother-in-law, Kurtis Golding of Parker, Colorado; brother, Joe Spanier and sister-in-law, Dace Spanier as well as niece, Laura Spanier, and nephew, Talivaldis Spanier, of Maplewood, New Jersey; his uncle Robert Witherow of Fort Collins and many other loving relatives. The family expresses its deepest gratitude to everyone whose outpouring of support and love for Ben is truly heartwarming. May God Protect Him A Memorial Service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday at Saint John XXIII Catholic Church, 1220 University Ave. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Northern Colorado AIDS Project (NCAP) where Ben volunteered in recent years. Donations should be sent in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive, Fort Collins, Colorado 80524.

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Eric Benjamin Spanier

July 12, 1976 - December 19, 2014