Jordan Sawdo

Jordan K. Sawdo, beloved son, husband, father, and friend to many, peacefully passed in his home with his children by his side on November 12, 2020.

Jordan was born on February 13, 1932 at Colorado General Hospital in Denver, Colorado to John K. Sawdo and Mary Dorak. Jordan was one of 7 children, John Dorak, Mary Dorak (Jorgenson), Matilda Gilmore, Evelyn Resinger, and 2 others who died at childbirth. His father, John K. Sawdo assumed responsibility from birth. Living together with his father and grandmother, who only spoke Czechloslovakian, provided a memorable old world experience. They lived in rural Denver with kerosene lamps and an outside privy,raising pigs, growing what little food they had, and looked forward to the occasional trips to Denver to the Goodwill for a pair of "new" shoes. In fact, it wasn't until second grade that he had electricity and running water. At Christmas he recalls wrapping old ties in comic paper to pretend giving a present to himself. His childhood is full of memories that were character building, clearly demonstrating his tenacity, love, and resilience in life.

Jordan attended West High and was in the graduating class of 1950. It is there that he met his sweetheart, Ruth G. Sausaman and they were married by Dr. Kenneth Sausaman on September 28, 1952. Jordan and Ruth shared 65 amazing years together, before her passing in 2017. Their life together began with Jordans military experience in the Navy Reserve and US AirForce, and then on to graduate school where he went to class by day and worked by night as a janitor and setting pins by hand at the local bowling alley to provide for his family of 3 children at that time. To this day, many of his dearest friends are from these glorious days.

After graduating Magna Cum Laude from the University of Colorado in 1958, he went to work for General Mills for over a decade, and another decade with National Tea Company where he was eventually the Director of Operations for over 44 stores statewide. Finally, after devoting many years in the grocery business, he had the opportunity to work in the field of geology. This led to directional drilling and subsurface surveying and he became the District Manager for Wilson Downhole, overseeing Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, North and South Dakota. Jordan was so well known and respected in the field, he went on to start his own company, which also allowed him to teach courses in Petroleum Technology, as well as designing oil wells for major oil companies. He never missed an opportunity to teach and did so at various colleges and universities, including the University of Colorado (Denver), Colorado School of Mines for many years, an extension course for the University of Texas, and a guest faculty member at Adelaide University in Australia, while he and Ruth were on a teaching exchange.

Additional lifetime teaching experiences ranged from his dedicated work of teaching from his basement at night, to a decade of fossil and related geology classes at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Furthermore, Jordan selflessly created courses for anyone who requested them, including school groups, where he and Ruth spent hours volunteering their time to devote to education of the youth. Jordan also provided displays, and unique specimens to many museums, including the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, Adams County Museum, and the Smithsonian Museum, where the fossil named after him, ERETMOCRINUS sawdoi, is currently housed. He excelled to unimaginable heights in this field becoming a nationally recognized appraiser in paleontology for museums, courts, as well as private collections. He held offices in many local organizations including Flatirons Mineral Club, Colorado MIneral Society, North Jeffco Mineral Society, and Rocky Mountain Mineral Society, to publishing and co-authoring many books, to being the founder of the Western Interior Paleontological Society (WIPS), where he leaves behind many friends and an immense legacy of love and dedication.

Above all, Jordan was a loving husband and father to four children, who all grew to be dedicated educators themselves. He also was lucky enough to be reacquainted with his sisters and their families late in life, and had a valued friendship with his nephew, Greg Sorensen, who resides in Denver.The family shared many field experiences, travels, camping, laughter, and song with nothing but unconditional love from him. His children will always remember how he encouraged observation skills on roadtrips and the contests of spotting wildlife with the welcomed prize of a nickel cone.

Jordan was incredibly empathetic, likely from overcoming many obstacles during his childhood and recognizing the value of hard work, of having a dream, and the sense of achievement. He instilled this value in his children and grandchildren, supporting them in every endeavor they pursued in life. He learned to build and salvage from his father and coached the family while building a dream cabin for Ruth in Netherland, Colorado. He was so grateful for his daughter Andell for being his "right hand man" throughout the multi year project that will never be forgotten.

Of course, Jordan will also be remembered by many for his kindness, his infectious energy, his dedication and contributions to science education and, in particular his love and advocation to the science of paleontology. Jordan would always brighten any room that he entered, perhaps that’s why he liked the saying, if you want sunshine in your life, you have to endure some rainy days.

He will be missed dearly by his friends and family. He is survived by his son, Jody Sawdo, and three daughters, Kaylonn (Sawdo) Tredway(Doug), Andell Sawdo, and Kendra Sawdo-Stucki (Paul). He was blessed to have had time to share his life with grandchildren Jansen Tredway, Matilda Tredway, Dylan Sawdo-Stucki, Dawson Sawdo-Stucki, Joshua Sawdo, and great grandchildren, Ellie and Sawyer Tredway, and Jaxon Sawdo-Stucki.

A celebration of life may be considered when it is safe to gather again. The family would like contributions to go to Western Interior Paleontologial Society for educational grants and scholarships in his honor.

Checks can be sent in memory of Jordan Sawdo to:

Western Interior Paleontological Society

P.O. Box 200011

Denver, Colorado 80220