Former state Rep. Paul Schauer, R-Littleton, died on Oct. 18 at the age of 80.

Schauer served 20 years in the state House, including as Speaker Pro Tem from 1987 to 1990. Schauer was first elected to the House in 1979, mainly representing Arapahoe County.

His bills focused mainly on financial and tax issues, including financing public highways and mass transit projects. He also sponsored the School Finance Act for many years.

Schauer followed his service in the House with a term as a member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents from 2002 to 2008.

Former Speaker Chuck Berry, who served with Schauer for 14 years, told Colorado Politics that Schauer was an outstanding legislator. He carried several significant bills, including the bill that resulted in a major reorganization of higher education in 1985.

Berry appointed Schauer as chair of the business affairs and labor committee, a position he held for eight years. Berry said he and Schauer, in safe Republican districts, knocked on doors for their colleagues in swing districts. “He was a terrific legislator and good friend, very thoughtful and hard-working,” Berry said. Schauer was also affable “when the situation called for it.”

Son Tim said, ” He could talk to everybody. He listened and worked with everybody.” Not all the children shared his political positions, but it was always a wonderful discussion.

“Dad was a PK – a preacher’s kid – [where] you have an obligation to your family and your country. What can I give, not what’s in it for me?,” Tim said. He had high expectations for his children, Tim added. Among his children and grandchildren, they’re earned 14 degrees from the University of Colorado as well as degrees from Colorado State University, Tim said.

Schauer’s first political campaign was for Eisenhower at the tender age of 10, and Tim was 10 when Schauer first ran for office in 1978. “We didn’t have data analysis and knocked on every door, talked to people, ask them to vote for Dad. That’s how it worked in 1978,” Tim said. “It was an opportunity to hang out with Dad, and then after, we would go play catch.”

“He was supportive of us finding our own path,” Tim said. He always had a good sense of humor, he added, even when Tim, in his student days at CU, painted his face for the football games, and his dad would sit in the stands with his lawmaker friends.

“He was never bored. There was always something to do, somewhere to go.” As a regent, he loved the big questions, like the role of CU for the state, instead of wanting to micromanage, Tim added.

“Affable, courteous, with a ready smile, Paul was an able colleague, willing to work across the aisle and do what was best for the University,” said former Regent Cindy Carlisle, who served with Schauer on the board.

Schauer was born July 18, 1944, in DeKalb, Illinois, one of 10 children. He attended Doan College in Nebraska on a track scholarship and earned a degree in economics. “He made it clear he didn’t want his kids going to school on a sports scholarship,” Tim said.

In April 1965, he married fellow student Cyndy Schaefer, and they moved to Denver, where Schauer began a career at Gates Rubber. He worked in safety, human resources, and business operations, rising to the position of head of government relations.

Tim said the Gates family, including scion Charlie Gates, never asked him for anything and were proud of having a state lawmaker among their ranks.

Schauer retired from Gates in 1998 and became executive director for the Colorado Rock Products Association until retiring in 2011.

An obituary from Olinger said Schauer was “well regarded as a leader who could work with his own party as well as across the aisle to get things done…Paul was a dedicated public servant and community leader and was a tireless supporter of higher education, both as a legislator and a regent. Above all, he was a great champion of the University of Colorado who was beloved by his friends and colleagues within the university and beyond,” the obituary said.

He is survived by Cyndy, adult children: Paul E. and Diane Schauer, Tim and Angie Schauer, Christopher “Kip” and Hanne Schauer and Heidi and Robert Gamber; and grandchildren Robert and Jordyn Schauer (and great-grandson Paul Magnus Schauer), Erika and Warren Colomb, Elise and Thomas Wintenburg; Allie and Clint Schife, Lucas Schauer, Christopher Schauer, Andrew Schauer, Ryan Gamber, Mia Gamber and Emma Gamber. In addition, Paul is survived by brother Peter (and wife Lynne) Schauer (Booneville, MO) and sister Lois (and her husband Joe) Abel (Chicago, IL).

In lieu of flowers, the family has asked for donations be made to the Alzheimer and Cognition Center Fund at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.

Contributions in his memory can also be sent to the University of Colorado Foundation, P.O. Box 17126, Denver, CO 80217-9155. A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2025. Details to follow.