Barbara Nancy Wind Fitzsimmons

Barbara Wind Fitzsimmons died peacefully at her home in Evergreen, Colorado, on November 4, 2026, at the age of 92. To those who knew Bobby, she was a remarkable combination of intelligence, kindness, humor, and compassion. She was a devoted mother, a loyal friend, a lifelong learner, and someone who had a way of making everyone in her company feel that they were the most important person in the world.

Bobby grew up on Long Island, New York, one of four daughters of Mae and Rudolph Wind. After her father died when she was four, the formidable Mae raised the girls, setting an example of strength and determination that would stay with Bobby throughout her life. She went on to attend Connecticut College and her academic excellence earned her induction into Phi Beta Kappa where she majored in physics. It was there that she met Terrence (Terry) Fitzsimmons, then a cadet at the Coast Guard Academy. They married in 1957.

Bobby worked as a physicist for Westinghouse in Pittsburgh before she and Terry headed west to Colorado. In 1957, they settled in Climax, a mining town perched high atop Fremont Pass, where Terry worked for the Climax Molybdenum company. By 1962, the entire town, including their home, was relocated 13 miles down the road to Leadville. Bobby joked that she forgot to remove a mirror on the wall, and it didn’t fall on the way down. Bobby formed deep and lasting friendships in Leadville, friendships that would remain important throughout her life.

It was in Leadville that Bobby and Terry raised their family, eventually welcoming nine children. In 1973, the family moved to Evergreen, where their home on Woods Drive became much more than a family house. It was a welcoming, safe, and often busy place for children, friends, and anyone who happened to come through the door. Bobby was a mother, friend, listener, and caregiver to many. She had a rare gift for making people feel seen, heard, and genuinely cared for. There was always room for one more at Bobby's table, and somehow she made it seem that you had been expected all along.

Bobby hoped to be remembered for her devotion to her family and children, and for her love of mathematics and the natural world. Those who knew her would likely add her curiosity, her generosity, and her quiet, often understated humor to that list. She was gracious and grateful throughout her life, never losing her interest in learning or her appreciation for the world around her.

An enthusiastic hiker and cross-country skier, Bobby found joy in being outdoors and observing the natural world. She loved to travel, particularly with her sister Vicki, whose move to Evergreen in 2006 brought Bobby one of the most meaningful relationships of her life. After Terry's death in 2001, Vicki's companionship became especially precious. The two shared adventures, laughter, and the kind of sisterly connection that only grows richer with time. She worked for Evergreen Volunteer Fire Department for over 12 years, as she always had a fondness and appreciation for firefighters, as her father and uncles were firefighters.

Bobby was also an avid reader who made excellent use of her library card and was always happy to attend a book signing or discover a new author. Even in her later years, she kept up with the newspaper, tackling both the Sudoku and the New York Times crossword puzzle. Neither was something she was inclined to leave unfinished. She also enjoyed watching the wildlife outside her back window, finding plenty of entertainment in the comings and goings of the natural world.

Bobby's curiosity never really retired. Whether she was working through a sudoku problem, solving a crossword, reading a book, or watching the birds and animals outside, she remained interested in what the next day might bring.

One of her favorite sayings was, “It will be all right in the end. If it's not all right, it's not the end.” It was a fitting reflection of her outlook on life: sensible, optimistic, and delivered without unnecessary fuss.

Bobby leaves behind a legacy that is difficult to capture in an obituary and easy to recognize in the many lives she touched. She will be remembered not just for the family she raised, but for the countless people she welcomed, encouraged, cared for, and made feel at home. Her presence will be deeply missed, but her influence will live on in the people who were fortunate enough to know her.

She is survived by her children Mike (Lore), Patrick (Shelley), Tim, Rob (Sharon), Pete (Kellie), Steve (Melissa), and Kathleen (Luke Finken), sister Vicki, fifteen grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Terry, and sons Terry and Charlie.

A celebration of Bobby's life is planned for the summer of 2027, and she will rest alongside Terry and their sons Terry and Charlie. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Mount Evans Home Health Care and Hospice at mtevans.org