Dennis Dougherty

Dennis Dougherty, a longtime fixture in Denver and Colorado politics, died on Friday after a long battle with cancer. Dougherty was a significant player in fighting for LGBT rights both in Colorado and nationally.

Here's the obituary from the Denver Post:

Dougherty, 70, died after 9 p.m. Friday at Aurora Medical Center of complications from liver cancer, said [Leslie] Herod, a former senior policy adviser in the Ritter administration.

Dougherty was a "super-connector" who moved easily in a variety of circles, whether rubbing elbows with the political elite and business executives or helping homeless youth and training disabled skiers.

He was generous with both his time and money and not the type to take no for an answer, said those who knew him. Although he supported a variety of causes, Dougherty was best known for his work on LGBT issues.