Dale was born on November 28, 1956, in Maryland to parents Jerome and Genevieve Coski. She grew up in the Denver area and graduated from Kennedy High School in Denver in 1974. After high school she attended Loretto Heights College. She entered The Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament after her sophomore year and was a school teacher in Chicago. Dale tried religious life spending time in initial formation but left before professing vows. Dale’s religious beliefs always played an important role in her life.
Dale joined the Army and served the country for 3+ years. She served as a cold war Army Sergeant Intelligence Officer and received an honorable discharge in 1981. After discharge Dale served the Denver community as a Denver police officer. While on duty in 1983, Dale was struck by an automobile as she was assisting a stranded motorist. Dale lost her left leg above the knee, lived with a closed head injury and dealt with quadriplegia.This experience and her own disability did not stop Dale. She became an advocate and champion for those with disabilities.
She had many accomplishments during her almost 30-year career with the City of Denver Agency for Human Rights & Community Partnerships. Dale helped enforce compliance of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and later continued her advocacy for disability rights guaranteed under the American with Disability Act of 1990. She developed the handicapped parking application program that has been modeled across the country. She also helped create the Denver Disability Parking Enforcement Program. Dale put forth legislation through the House of Representatives that was approved in 1989 regarding parking passes that permit persons with disabilities to park in specially marked areas.
Perseverance was a word others often used to describe Dale. Dale’s first service dog, and the first service dog in Colorado, was named Perseverance (nicknamed Persey). Dale and Persey had an extraordinary partnership. Persey was by her side in 1985 when Dale testified before the state legislature to create laws granting service dog access. Through the years Dale partnered with many service dogs. All of them accompanied Dale in her advocacy.
Dale could infuriate those who tried to put obstacles in the path of those with disabilities, and she was known to be inspiring to everyone else. Dale was a courageous and determined individual who maintained hope and saw the glass as half full. She had a keen sense of humor and often brought humor and joy to those she was around.
Dale married Alice Fritz on December 10, 2015, and was a dedicated partner through difficult medical times for both. Dale is survived by her wife, her life-long friend Kathy Flanagan, her nephew James Marcil, his wife, Venus and their son James, Jr (JJ), who is Dale’s great nephew, her sister Jean Bondio, her faithful caretakers Christal, Sarah and Toni and an extraordinary number of friends and colleagues.
Dale’s work touched lives across the nation. We are thankful for the time we shared with her.
Services will be held at Capital Heights Presbyterian Church, on October 26th. There will a one hour viewing beginning at 10am and be immediately followed by the funeral mass. A reception will be held after the conclusion of the service.
Parking is limited to on-street parking only, please plan accordingly.
