Jennifer Allen Luce Reynolds passed away peacefully in her Boulder, Colorado, home on October 9, 2024, after a long illness. She was surrounded by her loving family. Jennifer was born in Washington, D.C., in 1945 to Robert and Jean Luce.
Having grown up in Washington, D.C., Jennifer attended Sidwell Friends and Woodrow Wilson High Schools, later earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from the University of Indiana, followed by a Master of Science in Adult Education with a focus on Human Relations Training and Sociology.
Jennifer’s early career took her to Chicago, where she worked with the Blue Cross Medicare Division and later with the United Charities of Chicago as a Legal Assistant in charge of education. In 1970, she moved to Columbus, Ohio, where she worked as a Social Worker for the Franklin County Welfare Department. Jennifer returned to Indiana University to become the Director of the Volunteer Students Bureau, overseeing over 2,000 volunteers annually. In 1975, Jennifer returned to Columbus, Ohio, to serve as Associate Director of One to One Inc., a juvenile diversion program addressing the needs of youth in trouble with the courts.
In 1977, while on vacation in Colorado, Jennifer met and later married Rick Reynolds of Boulder in the Quaker Meeting. That was the beginning of a long, beautiful, and loving journey together. They shared interests in art, music, theatre and dance, literature, love of the outdoors, cooking, entertaining, gardening, and the civic life of the Boulder community. Their life was filled with joy and much laughter, with a love story that lasted 47 years. It was a true partnership in accomplishments while caring deeply for each other. Rick would often say that Jennifer was a gift he brought to the Boulder community, with friends nodding in agreement.
In 1979, Jennifer became the Executive Director of Volunteer Boulder County, Inc., where she directed and managed the Volunteer Action Center of Boulder County (later the Volunteer Connection) along with The Information and Referral Service of Boulder County United Way for over 10 years. She created the weekly “Volunteer Opportunities” columns in the Boulder Camera and the Longmont Times-Call newspapers. Jennifer also held leadership roles as vice president of the Boulder Press Club, president of the Human Resources Coalition, board member of the Journal of Voluntary Action Scholars, and the Governor’s Office of Volunteering.
In retirement, Jennifer followed her passion for art history, auditing courses at the University of Colorado for many years. She believed that the most important quality of human nature was altruism, and she lived with a deep appreciation for the beauty in all things. Her own beauty, spirit, and personality were an inspiration to those she worked with, and her smile could light up a room. She lived with grace and always looked for the best in others.
Jennifer is survived by her husband, Rick Reynolds; her son, Adam O’Laughlin; and her two sisters, Ann Luce Auerbach of New York and Jan Nance of Los Angeles. She was preceded in death by her parents and her sister, Kathryn Luce.
Jennifer will be remembered for her deep commitment to service, her leadership, and her generous heart. Her legacy of beauty, altruism and love will live on in the many lives she touched.
The family is grateful to Trail Winds Hospice, which took exceptional care of Jennifer in her last months. A private memorial service will be held by her family at a later date. Contributions in Jennifer’s memory may be sent to Blue Sky Bridge Child Abuse Intervention and Education in Boulder, Colorado — a generous gesture that would have surely pleased Jennifer.