Remembering Brian Vogt, a Man Who Cultivated Ideas, Institutions...and Community

"To truly have jobs that have meaning, that's the life...that's the life we all want. We want to go in every day and go, 'Wow, what I'm doing today is going to matter to a whole lot of people.' When you can do work that's tied to mission, and people support one another in the process, it doesn't get any better than that."

What Brian Vogt did mattered to a whole lot of people, and this is a much, much better place because of him.

Vogt, the 66-year-old CEO of the Denver Botanic Gardens, passed away this week after a tough fight with cancer. Weak but still incredibly erudite, he shared his views on work, on life, in a video shown at Visit Denver's Hall of Fame awards ceremony earlier this month, where he was honored for a career in economic development that led to a headhunter contacting him in 2007 about the director's opening at the Gardens. It turned out to be a perfect fit, because Brian was all about cultivating: cultivating institutions, cultivating ideas, cultivating the community.

Helping everything around him grow. Filling this city with new life.

As the head of the South Metro Chamber of Commerce, Brian grew the town of Centennial (where my parents ultimately put down roots late in life) from a crazy concept that split it off from Littleton, his hometown; as the director of Colorado's Office of Economic Development, he raised the profile of this state's tourism industry (and tried to replace the beloved "Welcome to Colorful Colorado" signs in a rare setback that showed just how deep roots can go); as the leader of the Denver Botanic Gardens, he grew an aging institution into an amazingly vibrant place that's now the most beloved, accessible spot in the city, with tendrils that have stretched across the country as Brian pushed his ideas of responsible, responsive gardening.

The Garden Club of America honored Brian for his efforts to grow access to gardening, and even made him an honorary member. It was quite a bouquet for a man who majored in classical antiquities at the University of Colorado Boulder. But with Brian, everything that was old became new again.

“Brian’s influence on Denver Botanic Gardens was deep and lasting, shaping its growth and beauty for nearly two decades," said board chair Mary Chin. "His legacy will continue to inspire all who walk these paths. ‘Onward’ was more than just one of his favorite sayings — it was a testament to his spirit and optimism. That spirit will be carried forward in all the Gardens does.”

Outside of the work he loved, Brian was particularly adept at cultivating friendships. Ours grew through nights at Casa Bonita and the Castle (a great Littleton bar he'd never visited, warned off by memories of his father, once the Arapahoe County sheriff), and a particularly embarrassing public presentation of the Denver Daisy bred to mark Denver's 150th anniversary, which I'd made the mistake of mocking. It didn't take long for me to kill that off, but Brian still let me help turn over his garden last fall, and I stashed a few potatoes I plan to use in another cultivation attempt this summer.

Just a few days ago, Brian was planning his next garden, too. Although he won't be here to nurture it, what he'd already planted all over town, all over the country, will still take hold.

Because what Brian Vogt did mattered to a whole lot of people, and his legacy will just keep growing.

It doesn't get any better than that.

Do you have memories of Brian Vogt? Send them to [email protected], and we'll share them.